Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

                                                                    APPROVED                 CHAPTER
                                                                    JUNE 10, 2025                  57
                                                                   BY GOVERNOR                RESOLVES
                                   STATE OF MAINE
                                            _____
                           IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
                         TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
                                            _____
                                     S.P. 84 - L.D. 197
    Resolve, to Direct the Governor's Energy Office to Conduct a Study
  Regarding the Future of Electric Transmission Infrastructure in the State
   Sec. 1. Study of future electric transmission infrastructure needs.
Resolved: That the Governor's Energy Office, referred to in this resolve as "the office,"
shall conduct a study of matters related to the State's future electric transmission
infrastructure needs. The study must include a review of:
    1. Existing processes for the siting and permitting of new and upgraded electric
transmission infrastructure in the State, including opportunities for public engagement and
methods for efficiently meeting permitting or regulatory requirements;
    2. Best practices related to electric transmission planning, siting, permitting and
community engagement from other states or regions, including consideration of different
types of state siting authorities and consideration of the potential for the sharing of electric
transmission infrastructure costs with other states;
     3. Existing analyses of future electric transmission needs in the State necessary to
integrate new renewable resources as well as to ensure reliability, improve market
efficiency or support the achievement of the State's policy goals, including the goals
established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3210, subsection
1-A; Title 35-A, section 3404; Title 35-A, chapter 38; and Title 38, section 576-A;
    4. Types of existing rights-of-way and opportunities for potential use of those rights-
of-way for siting of electric transmission infrastructure in the State, including colocation
with transportation, electric transmission and railway rights-of-way; and
    5. Existing and emerging technology and construction methods, such as grid-enhancing
technologies, advanced conductors and so-called strategic undergrounding, including a
cost-benefit analysis comparing buried high-voltage direct current lines with aerial high-
voltage alternating current lines and aerial high-voltage direct current lines.
    Sec. 2. Stakeholder coordination. Resolved: That the office shall coordinate
with state agencies involved in the siting, permitting and regulation of electric transmission
infrastructure and solicit information from a stakeholder group to assist in conducting the
study under section 1. The office shall hold at least 3 meetings to solicit information and
                                     Page 1 - 132LR0384(05)
comments from the stakeholder group. Each meeting must allow stakeholder group
members to participate remotely. The office shall hold the first meeting with the
stakeholder group prior to commencing the study required by section 1 and, if the office
issues a request for proposals for consulting services to assist in conducting the study, the
first meeting must be before the issuance of the request for proposals. At the first meeting,
the office shall provide to the stakeholder group a description of the scope and anticipated
timeline for the completion of the study. The office shall provide an opportunity for the
stakeholder group members to provide comments on any request for proposals the office
develops in connection with the study and the office shall consider such comments when
finalizing a request for proposals. The office shall hold at least 2 meetings with the
stakeholder group during the course of the study to solicit information and comments from
the stakeholder group. The stakeholder group must include, but is not limited to:
    1. A representative of the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future;
    2. A representative of the Public Utilities Commission;
    3. A representative of the Department of Economic and Community Development;
    4. A representative of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry;
    5. A representative of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife;
    6. A representative of the Department of Environmental Protection;
   7. An individual who is a licensed engineer employed by the Department of
Transportation;
    8. An individual who is a licensed engineer employed in the private sector;
    9. An individual who is a licensed real estate appraiser employed in the private sector;
   10.    An individual representing the Northern Maine Independent System
Administrator;
    11. An individual representing the equity subcommittee of the Maine Climate Council
established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 577-A;
    12. An individual representing the interests of private landowners in the State;
     13. Two individuals representing each of the 2 investor-owned transmission and
distribution utilities in the State;
     14. An individual representing consumer-owned transmission and distribution utilities
in the State;
    15. An individual representing an electric transmission line developer; and
    16. The Public Advocate or the Public Advocate's designee.
    Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That, by September 1, 2026, the office shall submit a
report to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology that includes
an overview of the study findings pursuant to section 1 along with any recommendations.
The office shall include any comments provided by the stakeholder group as an appendix
to the report. The committee may report out a bill related to the report to the 133rd
Legislature in 2027.
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