| This bill amends the laws governing electric industry |
restructuring as they relate to the 30% renewable portfolio |
standard. The bill defines "eligible renewable resource" to |
mean an electrical generator facility that relies on one or |
more of the following fuel sources: fuel cells that use |
hydrogen produced by the electricity generated by a renewable |
fuel; tidal power; solar arrays and installations; wind power; |
geothermal energy; hydroelectricity with a capacity that does |
not exceed 30 megawatts; biomass; landfill gas; or municipal |
solid waste in conjunction with recycling. The bill requires |
that, beginning March 1, 2005, no less than 0.5% of supply |
sources for retail electricity sales in this State is |
accounted for by eligible renewable resources that are |
constructed after January 1, 2002. This percentage increases |
0.5% per year until it reaches 5% in 2014. The bill directs |
the Public Utilities Commission to establish the Maine |
Renewable Resource Fund to support eligible renewable |
resources in this State, renewable resource research and |
development and to fund demonstration community projects using |
renewable energy technologies. |