In June, Maine enacted LD 1868, “An Act to Advance a Clean Energy Economy by Updating Renewable and Clean Resource Procurement Laws” The following are my remarks to the House in support of this bill.
I rise today in strong support of LD 1868, which is a necessary evolution in how we define and pursue our clean energy goals in Maine.
Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, or RPS, was adopted in 1999 to support hydro and biomass generation. In 2007, we expanded it to include wind and solar, setting a 10% renewable energy goal by 2030. In 2019, we raised that target to 80%. We ultimately established a goal of 100% zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
These were all important milestones. This year, with the release of the State Energy Plan, we were able to take a more expansive perspective on how we achieve our goals.
LD 1868 adds Clean Energy Standard sources to our target at 1% per year, beginning in 2031, with an additional 1 percent each year until it achieves 10% of our portfolio by 2040.
The reality is this: while the terms “renewable” and “zero GHG” were once treated as interchangeable, we know that not all renewable sources are zero-emission, and not all zero-emission technologies are renewable. Biomass, for example, is renewable, but its greenhouse gas profile depends on the feedstock. On the other hand, advanced thermal processes or clean hydrogen fuel cells may produce near-zero emissions, but they don’t qualify as renewable under our current rules.
This leads us to the logic behind LD 1868 and the Clean Energy Standard, or CES.
Mr. Speaker: Rather than limiting ourselves to a fixed list of technologies, as we do under the RPS, the CES asks a different question:
Does the electricity source reduce greenhouse gas emissions? If the source can meet the test of being zero or near-zero GHG and clean, determined by verifiable performance criteria to be established by the DEP, it can qualify—whether it’s fusion, advanced geothermal, hydrogen, or next-generation nuclear, or even technologies that haven’t been commercialized yet.
We are planning for a future more than a decade away. We know there are multiple ways to reach our emissions targets. e challenge is we don’t yet know which mix of technologies will get us there most efficiently or economically. The technologies we’ll rely on in 2040 or 2050 may not even be fully developed today. A technology-neutral standard gives us technology diversity, the flexibility we need, and a much greater likelihood of success.
LD 1868 is a smart, measured step in the right direction. It gives us the structure and vision to expand what’s possible without abandoning the progress we’ve already made.
Mr. Speaker, LD 1868 is not about abandoning our commitment to renewables. It’s about aligning our tools with our goals, ensuring that as we move forward, we stay focused on what really matters: affordable, reliable, and low-carbon energy for Maine’s future. It gives us the structure and vision to expand what’s possible, building on the progress we’ve already made.
I urge you to join me in voting ought to pass.