Democratic Representative Seth Berry has introduced legislation on March 26 which seeks to study measures that would boost the adoption of renewable energy in the state. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology.

• LD 1401 will focus on transmission solutions that help enable more renewable energy investment in the state. The commissioned study will review possible funding mechanisms, including bonding and public-private partnerships as well as more generally recommend measures that will accelerate renewables in Maine.
• Maine is likely to see more ambitious renewable energy policies now that the state finds itself under the leadership of Democrat Governor Janet Mills, a proponent for the state to move to 100 percent clean energy by 2050. Already in mid-March, the state legislature passed a bill to reestablish net metering for consumers with solar installations, scrapping the less-favorable gross metering policy by predecessor Republican Governor Paul LePage. In February, the governor also endorsed Avangrid’s $1 billion transmission project set to deliver Canadian hydropower to New England.
• The Democratic takeover of Maine’s governorship and the legislature in last year’s midterm elections has marked an abrupt shift from the previous administration’s energy policies. Beyond setting more advantageous net metering rules and seeking stronger RPS goals, Mills has put an end to the infamous moratorium on wind turbines.