I’m long overdue in writing an update. I had no idea how much time participating in the legislative process as a member of the public requires. Sometime after this session is wrapped up, I’ll write more about it.
Suffice to say, Tuesday March 5th is the work session for three bills we have been watching. Work session is the second of two formal events that happen before the assigned committee.
All three bills were assigned to Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee (EUT.) The public hearings for all bills already happend, and you can read public testimony at the links below.
LD 1963 : Updated bill of the thing that started the whole project
“An Act Regarding the Future of Renewable Energy Transmission in Northern Maine”
View Text and Public Testimony (click “Status in Committee” and then the plus sign for public testimony)
LD 2087 : Eminent Domain Bill
“An Act to Protect Property Owners by Preventing the Use of Eminent Domain to Build Transmission Lines Under the Northern Maine Renewable Energy Development Program”
View text and public testimony
LD 2205 : Feasibility Study Bill
“Resolve, to Require the Public Utilities Commission to Initiate a Feasibility Study to Evaluate Transmission Technologies and Siting Locations for Any Future Electric Transmission Line Proposed Pursuant to the Northern Maine Renewable Energy Development Program”