AUGUSTA - A bill sponsored by Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, to establish a clean hydrogen pilot program, was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday.
"Clean hydrogen has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to be an integral part of Maine's green energy revolution, combating the effects of climate change," said Doudera. "Investing in this fuel is not a replacement for other types of renewable energy such as solar and wind, but it can help our state meet our climate goals in sectors that are particularly hard to decarbonize, such as transportation and heavy industry."
LD 1775 directs the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), along with the Governor's Energy Office and the Department of Environmental Protection, to design and operate a pilot program to produce clean hydrogen. The facility selected for the pilot will be chosen, in part, for its ability to produce hydrogen using renewable energy while reducing life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions and meeting federal emissions limits to qualify for production tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The PUC will issue a request for proposals by Dec. 31, 2025.
In selecting a facility, the PUC will also consider benefits to ratepayers along with air quality, health and workforce benefits.
The new law will go into effect 90 days after the current session of the Legislature adjourns.
Doudera is serving her third term in the Maine House and is a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the Marine Resources Committee. She represents the towns of Camden and Rockport and is the Maine State Lead for the National Caucus of Environmental Legislator's. She also chairs the Legislatures Gun Safety Caucus.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Doudera], c. 305-965-2744