127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1073		LR 1084(01)
	An Act To Lower Energy Costs and Increase Access to Solar Energy for Agricultural Businesses
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Sen. Saviello of Franklin
	Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Current biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill establishes the Solar Energy Agricultural Rebate Fund within Efficiency Maine Trust (EMT) to provide rebates to agricultural businesses for cost-effective solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies. The fund is funded through assessments by the Public Utilities Commission on transmission and distribution utilities. The amount of all assessments must result in total program expenditures by each transmission and distribution utility of 0.005 cents per kilo-watt hour. New Other Special Revenue Funds revenue of $375,000 in fiscal year 2015-16, $500,000 in fiscal year 2016-17 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2017-18 will be transferred to the EMT. The bill repeals these activities on December 31, 2017. Any additional costs to the EMT to implement this legislation are expected to be minor.