Chapter 656
S.P. 885 - L.D. 2255
PART C
Sec. C-1. 2 MRSA §9  is enacted to read:
1. Office established.
Â
The Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security, referred to in this section as "the office," is established in the Executive Department to carry out responsibilities of the State relating to energy resources, planning and development. The office is directly responsible to the Governor.
2. Director.
Â
The office is under the control and supervision of the Director of the Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security, referred to in this section as "the director." The director is appointed by the Governor and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.
3. Duties.
Â
The director is responsible for the execution of the duties of the office. The director shall: A. Chair the Energy Resources Council, established under Title 5, section 3327;
B. In collaboration with the Energy Resources Council and other relevant state agencies, coordinate state energy policy;
C. Prepare and submit a comprehensive state energy plan to the Governor and the Legislature by January 15, 2009 and every 2 years thereafter;
D. In collaboration with other relevant state agencies, private industry and nonprofit organizations, collect and analyze energy data, including, but not limited to, data on energy supply, demand and costs in this State with consideration of all available energy sources;
E. Coordinate the dissemination of energy information to the public and the media;
F. Provide technical assistance and information to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the State's short-range and long-range energy needs and the resources to meet those needs;
G. Seek funds and partnerships with public and private sources to support the goals of the office, including, but not limited to, promoting energy efficiency, demand-side management and distributed generation;
H. Work with transmission and distribution utilities, state agencies involved in the permitting of energy generation facilities and other relevant entities to negotiate agreements that create value for electricity consumers with developers of renewable generation who are interested in building energy generation facilities or developing or utilizing energy transmission infrastructure in this State. This paragraph does not authorize the director to be a signatory to any such agreement unless that authority is otherwise granted by law. The director shall report on activities undertaken pursuant to this paragraph by February 1, 2009, and annually thereafter, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters;
I. Monitor energy transmission capacity planning and policy affecting this State and the regulatory approval process for the development of energy infrastructure pursuant to Title 35-A, section 122 and make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature as necessary for changes to the relevant laws and rules to facilitate energy infrastructure planning and development; and
J. Take action as necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of the state energy plan prepared pursuant to paragraph C.
Sec. C-2. 5 MRSA §3304, sub-§3, ¶K,  as enacted by PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. DD, §7, is repealed.
Sec. C-3. 5 MRSA §3327, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 425, §2, is further amended to read:
1. Council established; membership.
Â
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 Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security within the Executive Department, who is responsible for ensuring that the council carries out its responsibilities under this chapter. The membership of the council is as follows also includes:A. The Director of the State Planning Office or the director's designee;
B. The chair of the Public Utilities Commission or the chair's designee;
C. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the commissioner's designee;
D. The Public Advocate or the Public Advocate's designee;
E. The Commissioner of Transportation or the commissioner's designee;
F. The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services or the commissioner's designee;
G. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the commissioner's designee;
H. The Director of the Maine State Housing Authority or the director's designee; and
I. The Commissioner of Conservation or the commissioner's designee.
Sec. C-4. 5 MRSA §3327, sub-§3,  as amended by PL 2003, c. 487, §1, is further amended to read:
3. Quarterly meetings; staff; funding.
Â
The council shall meet at least quarterly. The council shall prepare a work program plan for each year establishing that outlines anticipated activities and establishes priorities among its efforts. The State Planning Office, within the Executive Department, Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security shall provide staff support to the council. Funding to support the work of the council and its staff is as follows.A. A state agency applying for funds under the State Energy Program of the United States Department of Energy pursuant to 10 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 420 shall, as directed by the council, apply for funds to support the work of the council and its staff.
B. To the extent funds available pursuant to paragraph A are insufficient to fund fully staff support for the council, each member of the council shall enter into an agreement with the State Planning Office Executive Department, Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security to share in the cost of providing the staff support.
C. The council may seek, and the Public Utilities Commission may provide, funds to the council pursuant to Title 35-A, section 3211-A, subsection 5-A.
Sec. C-5. 5 MRSA §3327, sub-§4,  as enacted by PL 2001, c. 630, §1, is amended to read:
4. Report; legislative oversight.
Â
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 the council's work plan 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 regarding energy policy. After receiving a receipt and review of the annual report required under this subsection, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters may report out submit legislation relating to energy policy.