CHAPTER 630
H.P. 506 - L.D. 646
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA c. 313-A is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 313-A
ENERGY RESOURCES COUNCIL
§3327. Energy Resources Council
1. Council established; membership. In order to facilitate more effective interagency coordination of the State's activities regarding energy issues, the Energy Resources Council, referred to in this chapter as the "council," is established. The chair of the council is the Director of the State Planning Office who is responsible for ensuring that the council carries out its responsibilities under this chapter. The membership of the council is as follows:
A. The Director of the State Planning Office;
B. The chair of the Public Utilities Commission;
C. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection;
D. The Public Advocate;
E. The Commissioner of Transportation;
F. The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services;
G. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development; and
H. The Director of the Maine State Housing Authority.
2. Duties; responsibilities. The council shall advise the Governor, the Legislature and state agencies in the formulation of energy policy, including policy relating to energy use and conservation, development of energy resources and facility siting.
In fulfilling its duties, the council may interact and cooperate with any state, federal, regional or local agency or private organization. The council shall establish and regularly consult with one or more advisory groups composed of individuals with relevant expertise and experience to assist the council in carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter.
The council shall:
A. Recommend coordinated state policy regarding major programs or proposals that affect energy use in the State and that involve the activities of more than one state agency;
B. Support the full implementation of an integrated program to provide a substantially improved energy resources information base for planning purposes;
C. Provide direction to the State's energy planning and regulatory programs and encourage coordination of these efforts through review and comment on agency program plans, specific projects and legislative proposals that involve or affect more than one agency;
D. Periodically evaluate, in consultation with affected interests, the State's regulatory systems as they affect the generation, transmission, delivery or use of energy, and recommend appropriate action, as needed, to improve energy planning and coordination;
E. Study specific energy issues and problems of state-level significance in order to develop sound, coordinated policies; and
F. Seek cooperation from federal agencies with jurisdiction over energy matters to ensure that their programs and projects serve the best interests of the State.
3. Quarterly meetings; staff. The council shall meet at least quarterly. The council shall prepare a work program for each year establishing priorities among its efforts. The State Planning Office, within the Executive Department, shall provide staff support. Each member of the council shall enter into an agreement with the State Planning Office to share in the cost of providing the staff support.
4. Report; legislative oversight. By January 15th of each year, the chair of the council shall prepare and submit to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters an annual report describing the council's activities during the previous calendar year and an outline of anticipated activities for the current calendar year. The report must also include an evaluation of the council's effectiveness in meeting the requirements of this chapter and the adequacy of available staffing resources. The report may include recommendations for changes to law. After receiving a report under this subsection, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters may report out legislation relating to energy policy.
5. Examination of state energy use. The council shall monitor and evaluate energy use by State Government. The council shall examine and provide guidance and advice to relevant agencies on how the State may use energy more efficiently, consume less energy and purchase energy, including electricity, more economically. The council shall coordinate its activities with the Clean Government Initiative established under Title 38, section 343-H. The council shall evaluate the progress of the State in meeting the energy reduction goal established under section 1770, subsection 1 and advise the Department of Administrative and Financial Services on means of achieving that goal. In its annual report submitted pursuant to subsection 4, the council shall describe its activities pursuant to this subsection.
6. Energy planning assistance for small businesses. The council shall develop information resources and coordinate the activities of member agencies to help small businesses use energy more efficiently, consume less energy and purchase energy, including electricity, more economically. The council shall form an advisory group of persons with relevant expertise and experience to advise the council in undertaking its responsibilities under this subsection. In its annual report submitted pursuant to subsection 4, the council shall describe its activities pursuant to this subsection.
Effective July 25, 2002, unless otherwise indicated.
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