1. Program established. The community-based renewable energy pilot program, referred to in this section as “the program,” is established to encourage the sustainable development of community-based renewable energy in the State. The program is administered by the commission.

[PL 2009, c. 329, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]

Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 3603

  • Commission: means the Public Utilities Commission. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
  • Community-based renewable energy project: means a locally owned electricity generating facility that generates electricity from an eligible renewable resource. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 3602
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • in writing: include printing and other modes of making legible words. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
  • Municipal officers: means the mayor and municipal officers or councilors of a city, the members of the select board or councilors of a town and the assessors of a plantation. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
  • Municipality: includes cities, towns and plantations, except that "municipality" does not include plantations in Title 10, chapter 110, subchapter IV; or Title 30?A, Part 2. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
  • Net generating capacity: means the output of a generating facility delivered to the transmission and distribution utility system. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 3602
  • Program participant: means a community-based renewable energy project that is participating in the community-based renewable energy pilot program established in section 3603. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 3602
  • Transmission and distribution utility: means a person, its lessees, trustees or receivers or trustees appointed by a court, owning, controlling, operating or managing a transmission and distribution plant for compensation within the State, except where the electricity is distributed by the entity that generates the electricity through private property alone solely for the use of:
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
  • United States: includes territories and the District of Columbia. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
    • 2. Program scope; limits on generating capacity. The commission shall limit participation in the program in accordance with this subsection.
    A. The net generating capacity of a program participant may not exceed 10 megawatts. [PL 2015, c. 232, §2 (AMD).]
    B. The total net generating capacity of all program participants combined may not exceed 50 megawatts. [PL 2015, c. 232, §2 (AMD).]
    C. [PL 2013, c. 454, §3 (RP).]
    D. Of the 50-megawatt limit on total net generating capacity under paragraph B, 2 megawatts must be reserved at the outset of the program for program participants that:

    (1) Have a net generating capacity of less than 100 kilowatts; or
    (2) Are located in the service territory of a consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility.
    The commission may modify the amount of net generating capacity reserved under this paragraph based on program experience. [PL 2015, c. 232, §2 (AMD).]
    E. The total net generating capacity of program participants that receive the renewable energy credit multiplier incentive under section 3605 may not exceed 10 megawatts. [PL 2015, c. 232, §2 (AMD).]

    [PL 2015, c. 232, §2 (AMD).]

    3. Program eligibility criteria. To be eligible to participate in the program, a community-based renewable energy project must:
    A. Provide documentation of a resolution of support passed by the municipal legislative body or by the municipal officers, if the municipal legislative body has delegated this authority to the municipal officers, of the municipality in which the community-based renewable energy project is proposed to be located, except that any project that is proposed to be located wholly in an unorganized or deorganized area of the State or that has a generating capacity of less than 100 kilowatts is exempt from the requirement set forth in this paragraph; [PL 2009, c. 565, §5 (AMD).]
    B. In the case of a community-based renewable energy project proposed to be located on the tribal land or territory of a federally recognized Indian tribe in this State, including any land owned by the tribe or held in trust by the United States for the tribe, provide documentation that the tribe supports the community-based renewable energy project; [PL 2009, c. 329, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]
    C. Be connected to the electric grid of this State [PL 2009, c. 329, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]
    D. Have an in-service date after September 1, 2009; and [PL 2009, c. 329, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]
    E. Satisfy the limits on generating capacity established in subsection 2. [PL 2009, c. 329, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]
    The commission shall prescribe an application form or procedure that must be used to apply to the program under this chapter. The application form or procedure must include any information that the commission determines necessary for the purpose of administering the program. The commission shall, within 30 days of receipt of a completed application, determine whether a community-based renewable energy project qualifies to participate in the program and respond in writing.

    [PL 2009, c. 565, §5 (AMD).]

    4. Program incentives. Subject to the requirements of subsection 2, a program participant may elect one of the following program incentives:
    A. A long-term contract for community-based renewable energy pursuant to section 3604; or [PL 2009, c. 329, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]
    B. The renewable energy credit multiplier pursuant to section 3605. [PL 2009, c. 329, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]

    [PL 2009, c. 329, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]

    SECTION HISTORY

    PL 2009, c. 329, Pt. A, §4 (NEW). PL 2009, c. 565, §5 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 454, §3 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 232, §2 (AMD).
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