AUGUSTA - In a unanimous vote, the Maine House gave initial approval Thursday to a bill from Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, that would help identify the best land for clean energy development while ensuring the state's natural resources remain protected.
As amended, LD 856 would direct the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) to create and maintain a publicly accessible database of fully permitted or constructed energy projects to assess their impacts on natural resources and help inform decision-making on future projects. It would also direct the GEO to plan for the development of a pilot program for dual-use solar projects on agricultural or horticultural land and require the office to include agricultural and natural resource stakeholders at future work sessions of the Distributed Generation Stakeholder Group.
"This legislation will provide the Governor's Energy Office with important resources to bolster our states efforts as we transition to clean energy," said Berry. "By identifying the best lands for renewable energy development, it will also ensure that our agriculture and forestry heritage industries can continue to thrive."
The bill faces additional votes in the coming weeks.
Berry represents House District 55, which includes Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Swan Island and most of Richmond. He previously served from 2006 to 2014, the final two years as House majority leader, and returned to the House in 2016.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Berry], c. 812-1111