Resolve, To Preserve Maine's Electric Energy Infrastructure

Sec. 1. Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 31, 2008, the Department of Environmental Protection shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy concerning the detailed quantitative criteria that the department uses to fulfill the standards of the Maine Waterway Development and Conservation Act with respect to assessing the value of hydropower generation. The report must include the methods used to determine the current and future value of renewable energy considering the cost of electricity to Maine consumers, indigenous production, greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel independence. The joint standing committee may submit legislation to the 123rd Legislature to ensure that the detailed quantitative criteria used by the department provide the department with sufficient direction to fully assess the public benefit with respect to hydropower.