Resolve, To Provide Grants to Public Educational and Municipal Entities for Feasibility Studies of Renewable Energy Projects

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  promoting renewable energy and promoting energy efficiency are significant priorities of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; and

Whereas,  significant funding from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will be disbursed to the Public Utilities Commission in the immediate future for energy initiatives, including renewable energy programs; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. Resolved: That the Public Utilities Commission shall, to the extent allowed, apply federal funds received by the commission under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to provide grants to public educational and municipal entities to conduct feasibility studies for the installation and operation of cost-effective renewable energy projects on public property. For purposes of this section, "public educational and municipal entities" includes the University of Maine System, the Maine Maritime Academy, the Maine Community College System, counties, municipalities, quasi-municipal corporations or districts and school administrative units, and "public property" means land, structures, facilities and other real property under the ownership or control of public educational and municipal entities.

Subject to the availability of funds and qualified applicants, the commission shall select grant recipients for feasibility studies under this section and shall determine the amount of funding distributed to each recipient. In selecting grant recipients under this section, the commission shall give priority to proposals from public educational and municipal entities that have committed to fund at least 10% of the cost of the feasibility study either in a financial commitment or an equivalent value of volunteer or in-kind contributions as determined by the commission; and be it further

Sec. 2. Rules. Resolved: That the Public Utilities Commission may adopt rules, as necessary, to implement this resolve. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A; and be it further

Sec. 3. Reports. Resolved: That the Public Utilities Commission shall prepare and submit an interim report and a final report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters regarding grants provided to public educational and municipal entities to conduct feasibility studies for installation and operation of renewable energy projects on public property in accordance with section 1. The interim report must be submitted no later than April 1, 2010, and the final report must be submitted no later than December 31, 2011.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.