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Lawmakers direct study of hydropower upgrades and geothermal potential; GEO will lead with PUC and DEP
Summary
The committee voted to advance a resolve directing a state study on expanding or upgrading hydropower and evaluating geothermal electricity and thermal systems. Sponsor and state agencies refined language so the Governor’s Energy Office will convene technical partners and deliver findings to the committee.
The Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee voted in work session to report out LD 300, a resolve directing a state study of hydroelectric opportunities and geothermal potential in Maine, adopting sponsor amendments and changes suggested by the Governor’s Energy Office. The committee’s motion to report the bill out as amended passed in work session.
Sponsor Rep. Matthew McIntyre told the committee the goal is not to pre‑judge outcomes but to “give due diligence in a cost‑effective and time‑efficient manner” to technologies that could expand in‑state renewable generation or provide long‑term storage options. He referenced new turbine and blade technologies that can increase nameplate output at existing dams and urged study of pumped hydro storage and other options in locations where development could be feasible.
The Governor’s Energy Office offered to convene the study and refine the scope. GEO recommended emphasizing an opportunities‑focused review — identifying geographic, technical and economic potential — rather than producing site‑specific cost estimates. GEO also asked the committee to make the study explicit about distinguishing electricity generation (geothermal power plants) from thermal applications such as district geothermal heat systems.
Committee members pressed staff on likely costs and whether existing agency resources are sufficient. GEO said it expects to perform the geothermal assessment with in‑house resources and would work with DEP and PNNL/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory contacts for technical support; GEO flagged that the hydropower portion may require additional technical modeling or contractor support and a fiscal note could be needed.
The committee adopted the sponsor’s amendment, including GEO language that narrows the study scope to opportunity analysis rather than site‑level engineering, and added direction that the studies examine greenhouse‑gas implications and seek to summarize research and practices used in other jurisdictions. The committee recorded a vote in favor of “Ought to Pass as Amended.”
Ending: The committee approved the study approach and directed the GEO to convene PUC, DEP and national lab resources to produce a report to the committee; members said the results will inform future legislation or policy on renewable generation and storage.
