Sen. Vitelli receives Clean Energy Champion Award

Sen. Vitelli introduced a new law to boost clean energy jobs and advance energy independence

Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, was recognized Thursday by the Maine Renewable Energy Association with the Clean Energy Champion Award for her work passing legislation to increase investment in local clean energy projects and jobs.

“I’m honored to receive this award because of what it represents: The Legislature acted to combat the climate crisis and move toward a more sustainable future, just as so many of our constituents asked us to do,” said Sen. Vitelli. “Shrinking our carbon footprint and reducing the harmful pollutants that we spew into our environment today is an essential part of addressing the climate crisis in a big, systemic way, and we made real progress on that effort this year.”

LD 1494, “An Act To Reform Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard,” expands Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by increasing the proportion of electricity sold in Maine that comes from renewable sources from 40 percent today to 80 percent by 2030 by incrementally increasing the requirement over the next 10 years.

LD 1494 also increases investments in new sources of renewable energy by requiring the Maine Public Utilities Commission to issue at least two requests for proposals for long-term (20 years) procurement contracts. Finally, the law requires a comprehensive study of the RPS system by the governor’s energy director, with a report back to the Legislature in 2021 with specific recommendations on how to better transition our state to clean, renewable energy.

The Maine Legislature will reconvene in January for the second regular session of the 129th Legislature, where lawmakers will continue their work to combat the climate crisis.