In a move hailed as a major step toward securing Maine’s clean energy future and bringing millions of dollars in economic benefits over the next two decades, the Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday approved a record 17 renewable energy projects.
Together they are expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 500,000 tons a year.
Solar energy was the big winner in what Gov. Janet Mills called the largest procurement of renewable energy in Maine’s history, accounting for all but three of the projects. The others are in wind, hydropower and biogas.
“Today’s announcement is a historic step forward in Maine’s effort to embrace renewable energy, create good paying green-collar jobs, diversify and expand our economy, and combat the threat of climate change,” Mills said in a prepared statement. “This progress, which is the direct result of bipartisan energy legislation I signed last year, further establishes Maine as a national clean energy leader.”
The awards represents the first of two rounds of in-state, utility-scale renewable energy projects to meet Maine’s recently revised Renewable Portfolio Standard of 80% of clean energy by 2030 and 100% by 2040, under a bipartisan law passed past year. The law, LD 1494, “An Act To Reform Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard,” was sponsored by state Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic.
Bidders selected in the first round will enter into 20-year contracts with one or both of Maine’s investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities — Central Maine Power Co. and Versant Power, formerly Emera Maine.
The full list of winning bidders and project details is online.
Economic benefits promised by bidders includes bringing more than 450 full-time equivalent jobs to Maine during the construction phase, and more than 30 full-time equivalent positions a year during the operations phase.
Bidders have also pledged Initial capital spending with Maine-based entities of more than $145 million and yearly spending of more than $3 million on goods and services from Maine-based entities, $4.7 million a year in local and state taxes and between $11 million and $12 million on wood fuel from Maine-based contractors.
‘Huge step forward’
The procurement announcement was also hailed by clean-energy proponents.
“This represents a huge step forward for clean energy in Maine with all the selected projects combining economic development benefits with favorable electric rates,” Martin Grohman, executive director of the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine,or E2Tech, told Mainebiz on Wednesay.
He noted that many of the winners were proposed and designed by E2Tech member companies “and we are proud to see their projects moving forward.”
David Costello, climate and clean energy director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, had a similar reaction.
“Today’s action by the PUC brings us one step closer to realizing a clean energy future that works for all Mainers,” he said in a statement emailed to Mainebiz.
“The development of large-scale renewable energy projects like these, especially solar power, will help grow our economy by creating new jobs, curbing harmful air pollution, and delivering more reliable, affordable electricity to residents, businesses, and towns.”
Dan Burgess, director of the Governor’s Energy Office, told Mainebiz on Wednesday that the PUC is required to do a second procurement round next year, and have a request for proposals out for that by Jan. 15, 2021.