APPROVED CHAPTER
JUNE 17, 2021 279
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
_____
H.P. 1251 - L.D. 1682
An Act To Require Consideration of Climate Impacts by the Public Utilities
Commission and To Incorporate Equity Considerations in Decision Making
by State Agencies
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §101, as amended by PL 2013, c. 369, Pt. F, §1, is further
amended to read:
§101. Statement of purpose
The purpose of this Title is to ensure that there is a regulatory system for public utilities
in the State and for other entities subject to this Title that is consistent with the public
interest and with other requirements of law and to provide for reasonable licensing
requirements for competitive electricity providers. The basic purpose of this regulatory
system as it applies to public utilities subject to service regulation under this Title is to
ensure safe, reasonable and adequate service, to assist in minimizing the cost of energy
available to the State’s consumers and, to ensure that the rates of public utilities subject to
rate regulation are just and reasonable to customers and public utilities and to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to meet the greenhouse gas emissions reduction levels set forth
in Title 38, section 576-A.
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §103-A is enacted to read:
§103-A. Climate requirements
In executing its duties, powers and regulatory functions under this Title, the
commission, while ensuring system reliability and resource adequacy, shall facilitate the
achievement by the State of the greenhouse gas emissions reduction levels set forth in Title
38, section 576-A.
Sec. 3. Office of Policy Innovation and the Future to incorporate equity
considerations and develop related definitions; report. The Office of Policy
Innovation and the Future, referred to in this section as "the office," in consultation with
other state offices and agencies shall:
Page 1 - 130LR1299(03)
 1. Develop methods of incorporating equity considerations in decision making at the
Department of Environmental Protection, the Public Utilities Commission and other state
agencies; and
2. Develop definitions for “environmental justice,” “environmental justice
populations,” “frontline communities” and any other terms determined by the office to be
necessary for the incorporation of equity considerations in decision making at the
department, the commission and other state agencies.
In developing methods of incorporating equity considerations and the definitions
pursuant to this section, the office shall allow for input from the public and stakeholders.
On or before February 15, 2022, the office shall submit a report to the Joint Standing
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Joint Standing Committee on
Energy, Utilities and Technology that includes any recommendations regarding methods
of incorporating equity considerations developed under subsection 1 and the definitions
developed under subsection 2, including any suggested legislation. The committees may
each report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature based on the
report.
Page 2 - 130LR1299(03)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1682, HP 1251: 35-A.101
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 279: 35-A.101