Sen. Lawrence introduces bill to help Maine more efficiently use renewable energy sources

AUGUSTA — On Thursday, Sen. Mark Lawrence, D-Eliot,  introduced LD 9, “An Act To Promote Renewable Energy by Authorizing a Power-to-fuel Pilot Program.” The bill was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT) Committee. 

“This is an opportunity for Maine to lead on an innovative technology that allows us to maximize the renewable energy we are generating in this state,” said Sen. Lawrence, who serves as Senate Chair of the EUT Committee. “As we work to innovate and build a grid for the future, it’s essential we keep an eye toward new technologies that allow us to maximize the renewable energy we are producing. That’s exactly what LD 9 intends to do, by creating a power-to-fuel pilot program in Maine.” 

LD 9 would allow the state to maximize the renewable energy it is generating. Maine curtails hundreds of thousands of kilowatt-hours of renewable energy. That’s energy the state is generating at times of low demand that simply goes to waste because we do not have proper storage technologies to capture it and reuse it during peak demand times. This problem is going to get worse as more and more renewables come online. LD 9 would help Maine reduce congestion and capture that excess energy as hydrogen or other fuel sources. Power-to-fuel can ultimately create an interface between renewable electricity generation and existing natural gas infrastructure.

The bill faces further action in committee.