In today’s short we discuss the Home Rule aspect of Maine.
Home Rule is in the Maine Constitution, mentioned in two sections:
This is what the Maine Law school has to say about Home Rule:
Maine has been considered a strong “home rule” state since November 1969, when an amendment to the state constitution delegated broad “home rule” ordinance powers to cities and towns. Cities and towns have the right to enact laws that are municipal in nature and that do not frustrate or run counter to a state law or a law for which the state has not prohibited it from passing. The concept of home rule is very important to local government because without home rule authority, cities and towns would depend on specific acts of the State Legislature for their governing authority.
The Northern Maine Transmission Line RFP (docket 2026-00033) is designed to offset the cost by selling the capacity of the line and generation to four other states through Power Purchase Agreements. These appear to be selling RECs (Renewable Energy Credits.) If these RECs are sold, wouldn’t this installation on the Maine landscape no longer count 100% to fulfilling the Maine energy goals in statute?
Page 5 of the RFP below:
