| This bill amends the laws governing electric industry |
| restructuring as they relate to the 30% renewable portfolio |
| standard. The bill defines "eligible renewable resource" to |
| mean an electrical generator facility that relies on one or |
| more of the following fuel sources: fuel cells that use |
| hydrogen produced by the electricity generated by a renewable |
| fuel; tidal power; solar arrays and installations; wind power; |
| geothermal energy; hydroelectricity with a capacity that does |
| not exceed 30 megawatts; biomass; landfill gas; or municipal |
| solid waste in conjunction with recycling. The bill requires |
| that, beginning March 1, 2005, no less than 0.5% of supply |
| sources for retail electricity sales in this State is |
| accounted for by eligible renewable resources that are |
| constructed after January 1, 2002. This percentage increases |
| 0.5% per year until it reaches 5% in 2014. The bill directs |
| the Public Utilities Commission to establish the Maine |
| Renewable Resource Fund to support eligible renewable |
| resources in this State, renewable resource research and |
| development and to fund demonstration community projects using |
| renewable energy technologies. |