127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1649		LR 2731(02)
	An Act To Modernize Maine's Solar Power Policy and Encourage Economic Development
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2015-16	FY 2016-17	Projections  FY 2017-18	Projections  FY 2018-19
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$10,000	$0	$0
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$10,000	$0	$0
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$215,318	$252,998	$263,258
Revenue
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$215,318	$252,998	$263,258
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to arrange for a solar power offer, conduct competitive solicitations for solar distributed generation resources and initiate a proceeding. The bill establishes one Utility Analyst - Public Services Coordinator III position and one Staff Attorney - Public Services Coordinator III position to take part in the required proceedings, rulemakings and periodic solicitations and contract evaluations. This bill includes an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $215,318 in fiscal year 2016-17 for these two positions. The PUC will receive $215,318 in Other Special Revenue Funds revenue in fiscal year 2016-17 from increased assessments to fund these two new positions.
	The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) to submit a report to the Legislature that evaluates what actions can be taken to ensure that any new solar distributed generation resource procured and proposed to be built on certain farmland does not remove topsoil or impair the suitabiltiy of that land for agricultural use. ACF has indicated the cost to hire a consultant to prepare this report would be $10,000. The bill includes a one-time General Fund appropriation in fiscal year 2016-17 for this purpose.