Resolve, Directing the Public Utilities Commission To Amend its Rules To Increase the Amount of Energy Conservation Funds for School Administrative Units

Sec. 1. Public Utilities Commission to amend its rules to increase the amount of energy conservation funds for school administrative units. Resolved: That the Public Utilities Commission shall amend Chapter 380 of its rules to increase the amount of energy conservation funds for school administrative units of up to $100,000 for one unit per year or $200,000 over 2 years for cost-effective energy efficient projects. The Public Utilities Commission's Efficiency Maine program shall use the funds in this section to include renovation and energy-efficient retrofitting and may not diminish current funding for the Maine High Performing Schools program. Funds in this section may be used for an energy audit for a current school facility if the school commits to implementing at least 50% of the recommendations of the audit within one year; and be it further

Sec. 2. State Board of Education to collaborate with Public Utilities Commission. Resolved: That the State Board of Education shall collaborate with the Public Utilities Commission to develop energy building standards for state-funded new school construction and renovations to existing school facilities in the Department of Education rules, Chapter 61 within one year. The rules must allow the State Board of Education to exercise its judgment in selecting energy efficiency standards best suited for the State by considering existing standards or new standards for new construction but must mandate the range of future standards that may be required. The State Board of Education shall also consider implementing a low-interest loan program within current renovation loan and grant funds for energy efficiency retrofitting of school facilities; and be it further

Sec. 3. School administrative units to report yearly energy consumption data. Resolved: That every school administrative unit shall report yearly the energy consumption data for each school facility within the unit’s jurisdiction to the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall share the data required to be reported under this section with the Public Utilities Commission and the Governor’s Energy Office for the purposes of tracking the energy consumption of the State’s school facilities and to quantify taxpayer and carbon dioxide savings associated with significant energy efficiency programs. Starting in 2009, the Department of Education and the Public Utilities Commission shall set a goal to reduce overall public school energy consumption by 10% by 2010, 20% by 2012 and 30% by 2014.

summary

This resolve:

1. Directs the Public Utilities Commission to amend its rules to provide school districts with additional funds under the Public Utilities Commission's Maine High Performing Schools program for cost-effective energy efficiency projects;

2. Directs the State Board of Education to collaborate with the Public Utilities Commission to enact new energy efficiency standards for new construction and renovations of existing school facilities and allows the State Board of Education to use current renovation loan and grant funds for energy efficiency retrofitting of school facilities; and

3. Requires school administrative units to yearly report energy consumption data to the Department of Education so that the department, the Public Utilities Commission and the Governor’s Energy Office may quantify taxpayer and carbon dioxide savings from energy efficiency programs and directs the Department of Education and Public Utilities Commission to set the goal of 30% reduction in overall public school energy consumption by the year 2014.