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131st MAINE LEGISLATURE |
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LD 1531 |
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LR 1885(02) |
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Resolve, to
Implement a 4-year Moratorium on Solar Energy Subsidies and Direct the
Department of Environmental Protection to Study the Economic Impact of
Industrial Solar Energy Projects |
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Fiscal Note for
Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " " |
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Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology |
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Fiscal Note Required: Yes |
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| Fiscal Note |
Possible loss of Federal Funds
Possible Constitutional Conflict |
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FY 2023-24 |
FY 2024-25 |
Projections FY 2025-26 |
Projections FY 2026-27 |
| Appropriations/Allocations |
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Other Special Revenue Funds |
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$203,740 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
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| Revenue |
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Other Special Revenue Funds |
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$203,740 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
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| Fiscal Detail
and Notes |
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This bill imposes
a 4-year moratorium on subsidies or assistance provided or disbursed by an
agency, department, bureau, office, or independent governmental unit of the
State to a private person for the purpose of researching, developing,
implementing, constructing or supporting a solar energy project. Currently,
no state subsidies are provided for solar energy projects. However, delays in
the disbursement of federal funds allocated to the State for solar energy
projects due to the moratorium could result in these funds being forfeited to
the federal government and affect the State’s ability to access future
federal funding opportunities within those federal programs. |
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The bill prohibits
the State from providing solar energy property equipment tax exemptions to
taxpayers in the unorganized territories during the moratorium period.
Taxpayers in municipalities would not be subject to the same restrictions,
which may be in conflict with the Maine Constitution's Article IX, section 8,
regarding the equal assessment of real and personal estate taxes. |
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The bill also
directs the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to conduct an economic impact
study of industrial solar energy projects in the State. It includes a
one-time allocation of $203,740 in fiscal year 2023-24 to the PUC for
contracted consulting services to complete an economic impact study. The PUC
is funded by an assessment set to produce sufficient revenue for any
expenditures allocated by the Legislature for operating the PUC. The
increased allocations in this bill require a corresponding increase in
revenue from the assessment on transmission and distribution utilities. |
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