An Act to Direct the Public Utilities Commission to Conduct Procurements for Energy or Renewable Energy Credits
Sponsored By: Mark W. Lawrence (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Stronger ratepayer protections in contracts
The law blocks approval of energy contracts unless the commission finds that benefits to ratepayers are more likely than not to beat the costs. Contracts from competitive solicitations must also reduce payments to sellers for energy made when market prices are negative, unless the commission finds good cause and other protections are in place.
Contracts for existing renewables
The utility commission runs one competitive solicitation, started by December 31, 2025, only for Class IA projects that began commercial operation on or before June 30, 2019. It buys energy or renewable credits equal to 5% of Maine’s 2023 retail electricity sales. Contracts are 10 years unless the commission finds a longer term is prudent. Contracts must cut payments for energy made when market prices go negative. The commission must find that benefits to ratepayers are more likely than not to exceed costs, and it must reject awards that are not competitive or not in the public interest.
Faster clean energy buying
The utility commission must quickly buy energy or renewable credits equal to 5% of Maine’s 2021 retail electricity sales, plus any shortfall from earlier contracts. The commission starts this solicitation within 30 days of the law taking effect. If the first round falls short, it can run more rounds within 12 months, and keep going until the target is met. The commission must move fast and consider projects’ interconnection costs and their ability to use federal tax credits when it designs and picks bids.
Bids must show local benefits
Bidders must show local benefits like jobs, taxes paid, and spending on Maine goods and services. The commission prefers projects on contaminated land and those that avoid using good farmland and forests. It must consider congestion and curtailment impacts on other renewable projects. Combined projects must submit one bid with storage and one without. Any chosen storage must stay in place under the same owner, and the commission can set a process to add storage to a project after award.
Utility commission rule cleanup
The law repeals two older subsections in the energy statute and lets the utility commission choose whether to adopt rules for the procurement section. These updates change how the commission manages rules but keep the main buying programs and protections in place.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Mark W. Lawrence
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 392
6/20/2025PASSED TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence.
6/16/2025SenateThis being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary.PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
6/16/2025HouseReports READ.On motion of Representative SACHS of Freeport, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-401) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-401). In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
6/16/2025HouseReports READ On motion by Senator LAWRENCE of York The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report ACCEPTED in concurrence READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (S-401) READ. READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-401) Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence
6/13/2025SenateCARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.
3/21/2025SenateReceived by the Secretary of the Senate on February 19, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2
2/19/2025Senate
Bill Text
Amendment C-A (S-401), adopted by House & Senate
Enacted
Introduced
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