H.P. 1152 - L.D. 1649
An Act to Strengthen Maine's Research and Development Capacity in Renewable Energy Resources
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 316, §3, is amended to read:
5. Funding for research and development; community demonstration projects. The commission by rule shall establish a program allowing retail consumers of electricity to make voluntary contributions to fund renewable resource research and development and to fund demonstration community projects using renewable energy technologies. The State Planning Office shall administer the program. The program must:
A. Include a mechanism for customers to indicate their willingness to make contributions;
B. Provide that transmission and distribution utilities collect and account for the contributions and forward them to the commission; and
C. Provide for a distribution of the funds to the University of Maine System, the Maine Maritime Academy or the Maine Technical College System for renewable resource research and development.; and
D. Provide for a distribution of the funds to Maine-based nonprofit organizations that qualify under the federal Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3), consumer-owned electric cooperatives, community-based nonprofit organizations and community action programs for demonstration community projects using renewable energy technologies.
Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §3210, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6. Fund. There is established the Renewable Resource Fund, referred to in this subsection as the "fund." The fund is a nonlapsing fund administered by the State Planning Office. All funds collected by the commission pursuant to subsection 5 must be deposited in the fund for distribution by the State Planning Office in accordance with subsection 5. The State Planning Office may seek and accept funding for the program established pursuant to subsection 5 from other sources, public or private. Any funds accepted for use in the program established pursuant to subsection 5 must be deposited in the fund.
Sec. 3. Allocation. The following funds are allocated from Other Special Revenue funds to carry out the purposes of this Act.
1999-00 2000-01
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Renewable Resource Fund
All Other $500 $500
Provides a base allocation for the Renewable Resource Fund, administered by the State Planning Office, to authorize expenditures in the event that voluntary contributions are deposited in the fund.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
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