Maine Energy Reform

Background

ENE is incorporated in Maine and regularly represents environmental concerns at the Maine Legislature and agencies such as the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine...
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Maine is pursuing many opportunities to expand conservation and other clean or demand-side resources as part of the near- and long-term solutions to the energy crunch.

Efficiency programs must be an important piece of the solution to Maine's energy challenges.. Efficiency programs are tested, cost-effective, and hugely successful.  LD 1485: An Act Regarding Maine's Energy Future was designed to help to advance the efficiency solution through two important measures:

• A Heating Fuel Efficiency and Weatherization Fund, which will remedy the lack of energy efficiency and weatherization programs available to Maine businesses and residents seeking help to manage their heating bills; and,
• Efficiency Maine Trust, a revised administrative model for efficiency programs in Maine that will improveefficiency and effectiveness while also providing a more robust system of checks and balances to make sure these funds are well spent.

See ENE's testimony in support of new energy legislation and bill summary for more information.

Efficiency proposals build on previous broad energy procurement reforms, including the mandates and funding for efficiency investments in LD 1851: An Act to Establish the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Act of 2007. The legislation was a result of collaboration among environmental advocates, including ENE, energy and environmental regulators, and Maine’s leading industrial groups. See the LD 1851 full text and fact sheet for more information.

Implementation of efficiency measures is led by the Maine Energy Conservation Board (ECB), an advisory board created under LD 1851 to assist the PUC and the Energy and Carbon Savings Trust with implementation of energy conservation and carbon dioxide reduction planning and programs in the state. ENE is an appointee to the ECB and participates in all meetings and major activities including reviewing and providing recommendations on long-term plans and budgets.

Visit the ECB Web site for board member list, meeting schedule, minutes, and related information.

Maine recently took another important step to reducing energy demand by updating its building codes. The legislature passed LD 2257, which sets energy efficiency standards for all residential construction, establishes real enforcement of the codes, and institutes novel approaches to raise consumer awareness of building energy performance.