The Governor's Energy Office, pursuant to LD 936 (PDF) as enacted by the Legislature, is convening this stakeholder group to issue recommendations that support continued development of renewable energy in Maine through cost-effective distributed generation.
In 2019, Maine law changed to encourage the development of renewable energy through distributed generation. At present, the primary mechanisms for developing distributed generation development are two net energy billing (NEB) programs: (1) kilowatt-hour credit and (2) tariff rate.
In 2021, LD 936 established a goal of 750 megawatts (MW) of distributed generation under the net energy billing programs. The bill also set a limit on distributed generation resources between 2 and 5 MW eligible for enrollment in net energy billing, and concludes the program for these resources on December 31, 2024.
Per LD 936, the charge of this stakeholder group is to "consider various distributed generation project programs to be implemented between 2024 and 2028 and the need for improved grid planning.” This group delivered an interim report on December 31, 2021, and will produce a final report by January 2023.
Objectives
- Advise and support the development of a cost-effective successor program to foster the continued development of distributed generation in Maine following the conclusion of the net energy billing program in 2024;
- Advise on the evaluation of the net energy program, with a focus on applying lessons learned to inform the contributions of its successor program toward state policy objectives;
- Identify necessary resources to achieve the preceding objectives as needed.
Final Report of the Distributed Generation Stakeholder Group
As directed by LD 936, the Governor's Energy Office submitted the Final Report of the Distributed Generation Stakeholder Group to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology.
- Read the Final Report here (PDF)
- Governor's Energy Office presentation to Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology (February 14, 2023) (PDF)
LD 936 Proposed Successor Program Framework
Pursuant to LD 936 and consistent with its interim report, the Distributed Generation Stakeholder Group issued a proposed successor program framework for public comment on November 23, 2022. This proposed framework is the product of eighteen public stakeholder meetings and work sessions, technical analysis, and input from stakeholders and the public.
Interested parties and members of the public were invited to submit comments on this proposed framework. All comments will be considered when preparing a final report to be submitted to the Legislature at the end of 2022. All comments were requested by 11:59 p.m. on December 14, 2022.
- Read the LD 936 Proposed Successor Program Framework here (PDF)
- Comments were accepted until December 14, 2022. Read all comments received here (PDF).
Membership
The stakeholder group members are appointed by the GEO and represent a range of key perspectives. Input from members of the public is also an important component of the stakeholder group's work, and opportunities for public comment are provided at all stakeholder group meetings.
- Dan Burgess, Governor's Energy Office - Chair
- Philip Bartlett, Public Utilities Commission
- William Harwood, Office of the Public Advocate
- Anthony Buxton, Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios on behalf of Industrial Energy Consumers Group
- Bob Cleaves, Dirigo Solar
- Neal Goldberg, Maine Municipal Association
- David Norman, Versant Power
- Sharon Klein, University of Maine School of Economics
- Fortunat Mueller, ReVision Energy
- Mike Judge, Coalition for Community Solar Access
- Jeremy Payne, Maine Renewable Energy Association
- Peter Cohen, Central Maine Power
- Jessica Robertson, New Leaf Energy (formerly Borrego)
- Phelps Turner, Conservation Law Foundation
- Amy Winston, Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
Interim report released December 31, 2021
The interim report of the Distributed Generation Stakeholder Group was released on December 31, 2021. Read the report here.
The scope of the interim report included the following tasks:
- Discussion of the optimal framework for a future distributed generation program in Maine, including consideration of best practices from elsewhere.
- Discussion of how to support the successful development of distributed generation by small companies based in Maine.
- Identification of resources necessary to fulfill the group’s objectives by January 2023.
- Discussion of a holistic grid planning process that receives stakeholder input and provides key actors with the ability to make strategic system operations, planning and investment decisions;
- Identification and discussion of a target amount of distributed generation in a future program that is sufficient to serve 7% of statewide electric load;
- Discussion of how a future program should encourage the deployment of energy storage and identify ways to prioritize distributed generation that:
- Limits impacts by being located on previously developed or impacted land, such as impervious surfaces, reclaimed gravel pits, capped landfills or brownfield sites, or located within municipally-designated preferred development zones;
- Serves load within a low to moderate-income communities;
- Directly serves customer load.
- Optimizes grid performance or serve a non-wires alternative function.
How to get involved
All stakeholder group meetings will be noticed in advance on the State of Maine’s Public Calendar and will be open to attendance by the public either virtually or in-person depending on the meeting format. Agendas and relevant materials from each meeting will be posted below. To be placed on the interested parties list for meeting notifications and materials, email caroline.colan@maine.gov.
Opportunities for public comment will be provided at each stakeholder group meeting and public input will be reflected in the stakeholder group’s interim report. In addition, members of the public are invited to submit written comments to the stakeholder group at any time by emailing caroline.colan@maine.gov.
Meeting materials are posted below. View a list of all upcoming meetings
- December 20, 2022
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Date: December 20, 2022
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Hybrid meeting
In person:
State of Maine Office Building - Maine Conference Room A
109 Capitol St
Augusta, ME 04330
Virtually via Zoom - register here
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- December 6, 2022
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Date: December 6, 2022
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Hybrid meeting
In person:
State of Maine Office Building - Maine Conference Room A
109 Capitol St
Augusta, ME 04330
Virtually via Zoom - register here
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- November 22, 2022
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Date: November 22, 2022
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Hybrid meeting
In person:
State of Maine Office Building - Maine Conference Room A
109 Capitol St
Augusta, ME 04330
Virtually via Zoom - register here
GEO presentation (preliminary version of LD 936 framework) (PDF)
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- November 17, 2022
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Date: November 17, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Hybrid meeting
In person:
State of Maine Office Building - Maine Conference Room A
109 Capitol St
Augusta, ME 04330
Virtually via Zoom - register here
Summary of equity and access work session (PDF)
Summary of land use work session (PDF)
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- October 19, 2022 land use work session
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Date: October 19, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Virtually via Zoom
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- October 18, 2022 equity and access work session
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Date: October 18, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Virtually via Zoom
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- October 4, 2022 meeting
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Date: October 4, 2022
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Hybrid meeting
In person:
State of Maine Office Building - Maine Conference Room A
109 Capitol St
Augusta, ME 04330
Virtually via Zoom - register here
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- September 20, 2022 meeting
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Date: September 20, 2022
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Hybrid meeting
In person:
State of Maine Office Building - Maine Conference Room A
109 Capitol St
Augusta, ME 04330
Virtually via Zoom - register here
Meeting slides - original (PDF)
Meeting slides - updated for presentation (PDF)
Summary of Stakeholder Group feedback (XLSX)
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- August 31, 2022 meeting
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Date: August 31, 2022
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Hybrid meeting
In person:
State of Maine Office Building - Maine Conference Room A
109 Capitol St
Augusta, ME 04330
Virtually via Zoom - register here
Meeting Materials:
- National Standard Practice Manual Overview (PDF)
- National Standard Practice Manual Summary (PDF)
- National Standard Practice Manual (PDF)
- CCSA IRA Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Synapse meeting slides (PDF)
- GEO meeting slides (PDF)
- Meeting notes (PDF)
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- July 19, 2022 meeting
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Date: July 19, 2022
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Hybrid meeting
In person:
State of Maine Office Building - Maine Conference Room A
109 Capitol St
Augusta, ME 04330
Virtually via Zoom - register here
Presentation from Central Maine Power (PDF)
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- June 21, 2022 meeting
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Date: June 21, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Hybrid meeting
In person:
State of Maine Office Building - Maine Conference Room A
109 Capitol St
Augusta, ME 04330
Virtually via Zoom - register here
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- December 29, 2021 meeting (rescheduled from December 22)
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Date: December 29, 2021 (this meeting was originally scheduled for December 22, but was postponed due to inclement weather)
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual meeting
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
Meeting materials
- Final draft of the Stakeholder Group Interim Report - December 21, 2021
- December 16, 2021 meeting
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Date: December 16, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual meeting
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- December 9, 2021 meeting
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Date: December 9, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual meeting
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
- December 2, 2021 meeting
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Date: December 2, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual meeting
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
Meeting materials
- November 18, 2021 meeting
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Date: November 18, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual meeting
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
Meeting materials
- DG 2.0 Public Process draft_11.17.21 (PDF)
- Holistic grid planning - initial thoughts from CLF 20211112 (PDF)
- Stakeholder Memo_Dirigo BNRG (PDF)
- Draft for discussion_initial report outline_DG Stakeholder Group_20211118 (PDF)
- Summary of written stakeholder group feedback in response to industry proposal_DG stakeholder group_20211118 (PDF)
- November 4, 2021 meeting
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Date: November 4, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual meeting
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
Meeting materials
- October 21, 2021 meeting
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Date: October 21, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual meeting
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
Meeting materials
- October 14, 2021 meeting
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Date: October 14, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual meeting
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
Meeting materials
- September 30, 2021 meeting
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Date: September 30, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual meeting
Contact Name: Ethan Tremblay
Contact Phone: (207) 530-2603
Meeting materials