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An Act To Require the Efficiency Maine Trust To More Effectively Administer Funds
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §10105, sub-§8  is enacted to read:
 
8.  Prohibition on use of funds.     Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the trust may not expend state funds on any energy efficiency or renewable energy program or project for a consumer that will result in any greater costs to that consumer, either in the short term or long term, regardless of the cost-effectiveness of the program or project with respect to the expenditure of the state funds.
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §10153, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 591, §1, is amended to read:
 
1. Energy savings improvement.   "Energy savings improvement" means an improvement to qualifying property that, as determined by the trust, is new and permanently affixed to qualifying property and that:
 
A. Will result in increased energy efficiency and substantially reduced energy use and:
 
(1) Meets or exceeds applicable United States Environmental Protection Agency and United States Department of Energy Energy Star program or similar energy efficiency standards established or approved by the trust; or
 
(2) Involves weatherization of residential, commercial or industrial property in a manner approved by the trust; or
 
B. Involves a renewable energy installation or an electric thermal storage system that meets or exceeds standards established or approved by the trust.; or
 
C.  Involves an upgrade of any heating equipment that will result in increased energy efficiency.
 
SUMMARY
This bill:
1. Prohibits the Efficiency Maine Trust from expending state funds on any energy efficiency or renewable energy program or project for a consumer that will result in any greater costs to that consumer; and
2. Modifies the definition of "energy savings improvement" under the PACE program to include an upgrade of any heating equipment that will result in increased energy efficiency.