This week was again largely consumed with work sessions as committees work to wrap up committee work on nearly 2,000 bills. Our team continues to monitor our priority bills closely as they progress through the process, and we will be in touch with members to engage with legislators as needed from this point forward.
While most public hearings are well behind us, the Council did weigh in on two bills this week including:
On Monday, the Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on LD 1737, “An Act to Ensure the Future of Maine’s Sporting Camp Heritage.” The Council doesn’t often have the opportunity to address this committee, but we were happy to advocate for practical considerations that are necessary to preserve Maine’s rich sporting camp heritage. The HHS Committee voted to carry this bill over to the Second Regular Session in order to allow time for stakeholders to address concerns. Thanks to Senator Stewart for sponsoring this legislation.
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On Wednesday, the Council testified alongside Mark Thibodeau of ReGenerate in strong support of the proposed sponsor amendment to LD 597, “An Act to Direct the Public Utilities Commission to Conduct Procurement for Energy or Renewable Energy Credits.”
Section 6 of the Sponsor Amendment directs the PUC to enter into one or more contracts for energy or renewable energy credits from eligible Class IA resources, which includes biomass generators. This competitive solicitation would give ReGenerate’s Stratton facility the opportunity to place a bid to compete for a long-term contract that would provide much-needed pricing stability for this 48-megawatt facility.
The Stratton biomass facility is a key energy producer and an economic anchor for the region. While generating baseload, cost-competitive, renewable energy, this facility provides a critical solution for disposing of mill residuals from facilities across the state. Without it, waste from sawmills, logging operations and landowners would end up in landfills or be left in the forest to decompose. Biomass is an economical solution that allows for greater utilization of harvested trees.
Without this opportunity, the Stratton facility will continue to face unstable energy costs that may prove insurmountable for this facility, and the effects would ripple throughout the regional forest industry. We are incredibly grateful that the EUT Committee agreed with the urgency of the situation, as signaled by the 11-1 vote in support of this emergency legislation. Thanks to Senator Lawrence for putting this important bill forward.
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We also joined fellow members of the Maine Climate Council’s Transportation Working Group on a letter to Governor Mills to urge her opposition to LD 1138, “An Act to Reduce Pollution Associated with Transportation in Alignment with the State’s Climate Action Plan.”
Other co-signers of this letter include the Maine Automobile Dealers Assn, Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, Maine Better Transportation Assn, Northern Maine Development Commission, Associated General Contractors of Maine, Maine Turnpike Authority, Maine Motor Transport Assn, Darling’s Auto Group, Senator Brad Farrin and Representative Wayne Parry.
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Looking forward, there’s a number of proactive bills that we will continue to advocate for in Augusta including (but not limited to):
- The majority report of LD 1423, “An Act to Improve Recycling by Updating the Stewardship Program for Packaging”
- LD 798, “An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Fund Mass Timber Manufacturing”
- LD 597, “An Act to Direct the PUC to Conduct Procurements for Energy or Renewable Energy Credits”
- LD 1792, “An Act Regarding the Energy Policy of the State”
- LD 1313, “An Act to Promote Equity in the Forest Products Industry by Allowing Commercial Wood Haulers to be Eligible for Certain Sales Tax Exemptions and Refunds”
- LD 1733, “An Act to Provide Reduced Investment Rates for Logging and Fishing Operations”
- The minority report of LD 894, “An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Paid Family and Medical Leave”
We will send action alerts as these bills advance to engage our members in support of these bills.
As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you all for lending your help and expertise so far this session. It’s a pleasure to represent the “Chainsaw Marching Band” in Augusta.
Best,
Patrick Strauch and Krysta West
Maine Forest Products Council