Request for Proposals for Renewable Energy Generation and Transmission Projects Pursuant to the Northern Maine Renewable Energy Development Program (2025-00361)
Docket No. 2025-00361
Background
Pursuant to P.L. 2021, Chapter 380, as amended by P.L. 2023 C. 660 and codified at 35-A M.R.S. § 3210-I (the Statute), the Maine Public Utilities Commission (the Commission) issued this Request for Proposals (RFP) to promote the development of energy resources in Northern Maine and the delivery of power from those resources to the system and market operated and administered by the New England Independent System Operator (ISO-NE).
Overview of RFP
In accordance with that objective, the Commission is seeking viable and cost-effective proposals for (1) the development and construction of energy generation projects in Northern Maine and (2) a transmission line or lines to connect such generation projects with the ISO-NE system. The transmission line will interconnect with the ISO-NE system at the northern terminus of the facilities constructed as a result of ISO-NE’s Longer-Term Transmission Planning (LTTP) Solicitation.
The Commission is seeking bids for the sale of energy and renewable energy credits (RECs) that pair (a) one or more generation facilities in Northern Maine (the Generation Component) with (b) a transmission line or lines necessary to connect at least 1,200 MW of resources to ISO-NE (the Transmission Component). Together these components are referred to as the “Project.” Preference will be given to Projects submitted as a joint proposal.
Awards will result in two contract types:
1) Generation: One or more 20-year term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). PPA payments will be contingent on deliverability (i.e., payments will be made only for delivered energy); and
2) Transmission: A Voluntary Agreement (VA) between the appropriate agencies in the coordinating states and transmission developers which will provide cost recovery through a cost-based formula rate approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under Section 205 of the Federal Power Act (FPA). The VA will include cost allocation, cost recovery, cost containment (e.g., ROE adjustments for cost overruns and other relevant provisions. A Section 205 filing seeking FERC approval to effectuate the VA Term Sheet is required promptly after selection.
Proposals
The developers proposing the individual components of each Project are strongly encouraged to submit one joint proposal, which must include agreed-upon terms of a Coordination Agreement, as described in the RFP Section 3.1, specifying how they will coordinate the development and construction of each component and allocate and manage the associated risks of development, construction, and operation among themselves.
The Commission will, however, consider standalone proposals for each component, which must include a draft term sheet of a Coordination Agreement containing terms the bidder would agree to if paired with another standalone proposal for the complementary component.
Coordination with Other New England States
The Commission will share bids submitted in response to this RFP with Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Bidders need not submit additional bids to those states.
To be considered by Connecticut, bidders must submit an identical bid to Connecticut in accordance with their Zero Carbon Request For Proposals . Proposals will be reviewed for joint selection by the applicable entity(ies) in the coordinating states in accordance with their respective state authorities and the requirements.
Developers must offer the same bid with identical commercial terms and prices in order to be considered by any coordinating state or entity.
Evaluation & Selection
Commission Staff will share proposals with coordinating states and other Maine agencies. Each coordinating state will evaluate proposals in accordance with their relevant state authorities and requirements. Commission staff will coordinate with other states and entities, as applicable, to select project(s) to recommend to the Commission. The Commission will then consider this recommendation and make a final selection in a public deliberative session. The overall delivered cost of contract products, including transmission costs, will be a primary factor in the evaluation of bids, including a determination of the amount of generation procured by the Commission and other coordinating states.
In evaluating proposals, the Commission will give preference to projects that provide the lowest delivered cost of contract products and exhibit an ability to harmonize the generation and transmission components.
Key Dates & Timeline:
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| RFP issued | December 19, 2025 |
| Intent to Bid Form due for Standalone Transmission Proposals | January 23, 2026 |
| Final Date for Submitting Questions | February 13, 2026 |
| Proposals due | February 27, 2026 |
| Commission review and negotiation | Begins February 27, 2026, ongoing |
| Signed Term Sheet for Coordination, Agreements for Joint Proposals due | April 1, 2026 |
| Commission decision and award | No later than May 2026 |
| Finalize Key Contract Terms | No later than July 2026 |
| Finalize and Execute Coordination Agreement(s) | No later than July 2026 |
| Transmission developer files FERC §205 | No later than July 2026 |
| ISO-NE LTTP selection recommendation | By Sep 30, 2026 |
| ISO NE final Third MRIS released | Prior to close of Cluster Request Window (November 2026) |
| ISO NE Cluster Request Window opens | October 2026 |
| ISO NE Cluster Request Window closes | November 2026 |
Questions, Additional Information, Updates
Bidders may submit questions or request additional information by email to NorthernME.RFP.PUC@maine.gov on or before February 13, 2026. Commission Staff will maintain a publicly accessible questions and answer log. The log will be available on this site and will be updated periodically.
Additional information about this RFP, including a copy of the Act and required forms and instructions for submitting bids, are available below.
All changes, updates and supplements to the RFP and related materials will be posted to the RFP Website. Bidders are responsible for obtaining these updates and additions.
Attachments, Links & RFP Forms
- RFP
- Form of Bidder Affidavit
- Transmission Proposal Summary and Project Relevant Information Forms (Excel)
- Generation Proposal Summary and Project Relevant Information Forms (Excel)
- NDA
- Standard form Power Purchase Agreement
- Standard form Voluntary Agreement
- Instructions for Filing Bid Security Deposit
- Instructions for Submitting Proposals
- Q&A Log (coming later, link to CMS)
* For purposes of this RFP, the term “renewable energy credit” has the same meaning as “renewable energy certificate.”