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Committee hears support and some business concern for expanding appliance energy and water standards (LD 11 58)
Summary
Rep. Art Bell—s LD 11 58 would add categories of commercial and residential appliances to Maine—s efficiency standards (which Gov. Mills enabled in 2021). Proponents cited projected consumer savings and emissions reductions; hospitality groups warned of disproportionate impacts on small or seasonal businesses and supply-chain pressures.
Representative Art Bell presented LD 11 58 to expand the list of products the Department of Environmental Protection may address via major-substantive rulemaking under Maine—s appliance, energy and water standards law. The 2021 law (LD 940) authorized DEP to adopt efficiency standards for an initial set of products; the current bill would add additional commercial and residential categories including commercial dishwashers, commercial ovens, commercial food steamers, commercial fryers, commercial battery chargers, certain gas fireplaces, residential ventilating fans, and water softeners.
DEP Bureau of Air Quality Director Jeffrey S. Crawford testified neither for nor against the bill but outlined implementation issues. He noted that many product…
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