Joint Order, To Establish the Joint Select Committee on Maine's Energy Future

Whereas,  the State possesses an extraordinary abundance of natural resources that should be harnessed to produce clean energy; and

Whereas,  the citizens of the State are overly reliant on foreign oil to power their vehicles, homes and businesses; and

Whereas,  the State has unique opportunities to create jobs, ease energy costs by reducing energy consumption and increasing efficiency and reduce pollution and carbon emissions; and

Whereas,  these opportunities raise issues that are generally heard by several different joint standing committees of the Legislature; and

Whereas,  to capitalize on these opportunities the State must catalog its current resources and develop a plan to address the State's energy needs; now, therefore, be it

the Senate concurring, that the Joint Select Committee on Maine's Energy Future is established as follows.

1. Establishment. The Joint Select Committee on Maine's Energy Future, referred to in this order as "the committee," is established.

2. Membership. The committee consists of 17 members of the Legislature: 5 Senators appointed by the President of the Senate and 12 members of the House appointed by the Speaker of the House. The President of the Senate shall appoint 3 members from the party holding the largest number of seats and 2 from the party holding the 2nd-largest number of seats. The Speaker of the House shall appoint 7 members from the party holding the largest number of seats and 5 members from the party holding the 2nd-largest number of seats. The first-named Senate and House members shall serve as cochairs of the committee.

3. Duties. The committee shall develop a plan with benchmarks and consider legislation to achieve energy sustainability, reduce consumption through energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and promote economic development through renewable energy resources in the State. The committee shall make recommendations regarding the allocation of any funds for weatherization, energy assistance, development of renewable energy sources or energy-based workforce development received from the State, the Federal Government or other outside sources.

4. Authority. The committee may hold hearings for information gathering or, on any legislation referred to it, refer legislation to other committees and may submit legislation.

5. Staff assistance. The committee shall share a committee clerk with a joint standing committee named by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. The Office of Policy and Legal Analysis and the Office of Fiscal and Program Review shall provide staffing to the committee and may, with the permission of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, obtain technical assistance from appropriate sources.

6. Compensation. Members of the committee are entitled to receive the legislative per diem as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2.

7. Report. The committee shall submit its findings and recommendations along with any necessary implementing legislation to the 124th Legislature by April 15, 2009.

8. Termination. The committee terminates June 17, 2009.