LD 1895

LD 1895 is the result of productive collaboration between environmental groups, organized labor, fisheries stakeholders, legislative champions, and the Mills Administration. The bill sets a procurement schedule for a goal of 3GW of installed offshore wind energy by 2040, establishes strong labor standards for the installation of wind turbines and the construction of a world-class offshore wind port in Maine, and creates a framework for fairly and expeditiously permitting offshore wind port infrastructure. The legislation centers equity and environmental protection by incentivizing development outside of Lobster Management Area 1 (a priority fishing ground for fisheries stakeholders) and requiring developers to plan for stakeholder engagement; economic and community benefits; diversity, equity, and inclusion in employment and contracting; fisheries, environmental, and wildlife research, monitoring, and mitigation; and investment in fishing communities. It also requires that the Governor’s Energy Office ask for comments from each federally recognized tribe in the state and the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission in crafting the framework for purchasing the offshore wind power from developers. With LD 1895, Maine will be on track to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2040 in a way that benefits all Maine people.