130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1619		LR 2053(02)
	An Act To Establish a Moratorium on Offshore Wind Power Projects in Maine's Territorial Waters
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2021-22	FY 2022-23	Projections  FY 2023-24	Projections  FY 2024-25
Appropriations/Allocations
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$500	$500	$500	$500
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill creates the Offshore Wind Research Consortium Fund within the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) and directs the office to coordinate the development and execution of a research strategy to better understand the impacts of floating offshore wind power projects in the Gulf of Maine. The bill includes an ongoing $500 allocation beginning in fiscal 2021-22 to establish the fund and allow expenditures of any money received. The GEO has indicated that it anticipates having sufficient resources to carry out the activities required by the bill.
	Any additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection as a result of a review of their existing programs to prepare recommendations for any statutory changes to these programs necessary to implement the moratorium established by the bill are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.