An Act To Include Useful Thermal Energy as a Renewable Energy Source
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§2, ¶B-3, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 542, §3, is amended to read:
(1) Whose A source of electrical generation whose total power production capacity does not exceed 100 megawatts and relies on one or more of the following:
(a) Fuel cells;
(b) Tidal power;
(c) Solar arrays and installations;
(d) Geothermal installations;
(e) Hydroelectric generators that meet all state and federal fish passage requirements applicable to the generator; or
(f) Biomass generators that are fueled by wood or wood waste, landfill gas or anaerobic digestion of agricultural products, by-products or wastes; or
(2) That A source of electrical generation that relies on wind power installations . ; or
(3) Useful thermal energy.
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§2, ¶D is enacted to read:
Sec. 3. Commission rules; renewable energy credits based on useful thermal energy. The Public Utilities Commission shall adopt rules providing a methodology for measurement of useful thermal energy and valuation of that energy for purposes of calculating renewable energy credits under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3210. Rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
summary
This bill provides that renewable energy credits may be based on renewable energy derived from geothermal, solar thermal or biomass thermal sources that can be metered, that is delivered to an end user in the form of direct heat, steam, hot water or other thermal form and that is used for heating, cooling, humidity control, process use or other thermal end use, the energy requirements for which nonrenewable fuel or electricity would be otherwise consumed. The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission by rule to provide a methodology for measurement of useful thermal energy and valuation of that energy for purposes of calculating renewable energy credits.