An Act To Provide for Economic Development with Offshore Wind Power
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §15301, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. AAA, §3, is amended to read:
Sec. 2. 10 MRSA §963-A, sub-§10, ¶S, as amended by PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. D, §2, is further amended to read:
Sec. 3. 10 MRSA §963-A, sub-§10, ¶T, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. D, §3, is amended to read:
Sec. 4. 10 MRSA §963-A, sub-§10, ¶U is enacted to read:
Sec. 5. 35-A MRSA §102, sub-§10-A is enacted to read:
Sec. 6. 35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§10 is enacted to read:
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 7. 36 MRSA §5219-II is enacted to read:
§ 5219-II. Offshore wind energy development
A person developing an offshore wind energy development as defined in Title 35-A, section 102, subsection 10-A is allowed a credit against the taxes imposed by this Part equal to 100% of the taxes due under this Part that are attributable to the person's ownership of the offshore wind energy development in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000.
Sec. 8. Public Utilities Commission to develop criteria. The Public Utilities Commission shall develop criteria for issuing certificates of public convenience and necessity for offshore wind energy developments. The commission shall submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature to make any statutory changes needed to establish the criteria in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3132.
summary
This bill adds offshore wind energy developments and associated manufacturing as a targeted technology for support from the Maine Technology Institute. This bill adds offshore wind energy developments and associated manufacturing as an eligible project to receive financial assistance from the Finance Authority of Maine. This bill provides for a $5,000,000 tax credit for ownership of offshore wind energy developments. This bill directs the Public Utilities Commission to implement a portfolio requirement that will guarantee the sale of any energy generated by an offshore wind energy development when the cost of that energy is substantially equal to market value. This bill directs the Public Utilities Commission to identify specific criteria for issuing a certificate of public convenience and necessity for an offshore wind energy development and to submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature to establish the criteria in statute.