Dept. of Labor to Hold Listening Sessions on Rulemaking for Apprenticeship in Energy Facility Construction Bookmark and Share

February 12, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 12, 2021

Dept. of Labor to Hold Listening Sessions on Rulemaking for Apprenticeship in Energy Facility Construction

AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) is preparing for the required rulemaking process for 26 MRS Chapter 43: Apprenticeship in Energy Facility Construction - http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/26/title26ch43sec0-3.html , enacted in 2019 as "An Act to Establish a Green New Deal for Maine." The law went into effect on January 1, 2021.

This new law requires that employers constructing covered generation facilities in Maine employ a certain number of apprentices, prescribed for successive years as an increasing percentage of all persons employed in the construction. The statute also requires the Maine Department of Labor to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the section.

As part of the process, MDOL will hold a virtual public listening session to hear feedback from the public on what questions they would like addressed during the rulemaking process.

This initial session will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 25th. Interested parties can participate by emailing Christina Starr at christina.starr@maine.gov to receive Zoom meeting information. Depending on the level of interest, the Department may hold additional sessions.

We are looking forward to working collaboratively with all interested parties during the rulemaking process, Mike Roland, Director of the Department's Bureau of Labor Standards, said. The Department recognizes that the broadest possible understanding of construction practices in the energy industry will be helpful in producing rules which effectively achieve the purpose of the statute while supporting Maines larger energy goals. We want to hear from developers, employers, workers and their organizations, as well as the general public.

The bill required the Maine Department of Labor to promulgate rules to ensure the legislation can be implemented and enforced appropriately. This process will include posting of the draft rules prior to a public comment period.

The full statute: http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/26/title26ch43sec0-3.html