Download Maine’s renewable electricity PDF
Renewable Mandate Status: Not on Track
- 2008 Estimated New Qualified Renewable Generation: Less than 0.5%[i]
- 2008 Mandate: 1%
- 2017 Mandate: 10% (of new resources)
Eligible Resources: fuel cells, tidal power, solar arrays and instillations, wind power, geothermal power, hydropower, biomass power or generators fuel by municipal solid waste in conjunction with recycling[ii]
Class I compliance schedule:[v]
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Renewable Portfolio History: Adopted RPS in September of 1999 requiring 30% renewable retail electric sales. Enacted L.D. 2041 in June 2006 creating an RPS goal to increase new renewable energy capacity to 10% by 2017 (placed in after Sept. 1, 2005). Public Law 403 in 2007 converted the goal into a mandatory standard (Class I)[vi].
- Wind energy development goals:[vii]
- At least 2,000 MW of installed capacity by 2015
- At least 3,000 MW of installed capacity by 2020 (of which 300 MW potential from coastal or offshore water facilities)
- At least 8,000 MW of installed capacity by 2030
Credit Trading: Yes
Noncompliance penalty: The PUC allows utilities to pay an alternative compliance payment of $57.12 per megawatt-hour (MWh) for Class I renewables (inflation adjusted).[viii]
Electricity Price Ranking: 12th Highest[ix]
- 12.62 cents/KWh in Maine
- 7.67 cents/KWh in non-mandated states
[i] Maine only counts renewable generation from sources created after the creation of their RPS. 58% of generation was exempt; 25% of the rest was satisfied in 2008 with alternative compliance payments: From: “Maine Portfolio on New Renewable Resources,” January 19, 2008.
[ii] 35-A Maine Rev. Stat. §3210-3-A (1999), http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/35-A/title35-Asec3210.html.
[iii] 35-A Maine Rev. Stat. §3210-3-A (1999), http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/35-A/title35-Asec3210.html.
[iv] 35-A Maine Rev. Stat. §3210-2-C (1999), http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/35-A/title35-Asec3210.html.
[v] 35-A Maine Rev. Stat. §3210-3-A (1999), http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/35-A/title35-Asec3210.html.
[vi] Database of state Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, Maine, http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=ME01R&re=1&ee=1.
[vii] Maine L.D. 2283 (April 11, 2008), http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_123rd/billtexts/SP090801.asp.
[viii] Maine Public Service Commission, Renewable Portfolio Standard: Alternative Compliance Payments: http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/electricity/electric_supply/documents/2010AlternativeComplaincePayment.pdf.
[ix] EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B., Average Retail Price of Electricity, June 2010, Released Sept. 15, 2010, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_b.html
