131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1881		LR 77(06)
	An Act Regarding Compensation Fees and Related Conservation Efforts to Protect Soils and Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat from Solar and Wind Energy Development and High-impact Electric Transmission Lines Under the Site Location of Development Laws
	Fiscal Note for House Amendment " " to Committee Amendment "A"
	Sponsor: Rep. Pluecker of Warren
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Solar energy compensation fees credited to different account Changes permitting authority
			FY 2023-24	FY 2024-25	Projections  FY 2025-26	Projections  FY 2026-27
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$102,722	$137,537	$143,524	$149,811
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$102,722	$137,537	$143,524	$149,811
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$585	$585	$585	$585
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This amendment removes the requirement that solar energy compensation fees be credited to the Maine Working Farmland Access and Protection Fund. Instead, the fees are to be credited to a new account within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) to be distributed at the discretion of the Commissioner for the same purpose. The amendment also changes the permitting authority for solar energy developments located on high-value agricultural land from the Department of Environmental Protection to the ACF. The amendment includes ongoing General Fund appropriations to ACF of $97,722 for one Environmental Licensing Supervisor position and associated costs and of $5,000 for contracted legal services beginning in fiscal year 2023-24. The amendment also includes ongoing Other Special Revenue Funds allocations to ACF of $585 beginning in fiscal year 2023-24 for the centralized technology management costs associated with the position.