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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1297
S.P. 527 In Senate, March 25, 2025
Resolve, to Establish the Committee to Study the Use of Sunflower
Crops to Produce Biofuels
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator STEWART of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Representative QUINT of Hodgdon and
Senator: BERNARD of Aroostook, Representatives: ALBERT of Madawaska, ARDELL of
Monticello, BABIN of Fort Fairfield, DAIGLE of Fort Kent, GUERRETTE of Caribou,
SWALLOW of Houlton, UNDERWOOD of Presque Isle.
Page 1 - 132LR1642(01)
1Sec. 1. Committee established. Resolved: That the Committee to Study the Use
2 of Sunflower Crops to Produce Biofuels, referred to in this resolve as "the committee," is
3 established.
4Sec. 2. Committee membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule
5 353, the committee consists of 12 members appointed as follows:
6 1. One member of the Senate who serves on the Joint Standing Committee on Energy,
7 Utilities and Technology, appointed by the President of the Senate;
8 2. One member of the Senate who represents Aroostook County, appointed by the
9 President of the Senate;
10 3. One member of the House of Representatives who serves on the Joint Standing
11 Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, appointed by the Speaker of the
12 House;
13 4. One member of the House of Representatives who represents Aroostook County,
14 appointed by the Speaker of the House;
15 5. Two members, one of whom represents the office of the senior United States Senator
16 and one of whom represents the office of the junior United States Senator, appointed by
17 the President of the Senate;
18 6. One member representing the office of United States Representative from the State's
19 Second Congressional District, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
20 7. One member who serves on the Maine Potato Board, appointed by the President of
21 the Senate;
22 8. One member representing the University of Maine at Presque Isle, appointed by the
23 Speaker of the House;
24 9. One member representing the Maine Energy Marketers Association, appointed by
25 the President of the Senate; and
26 10. Two members representing renewable energy companies in the State, appointed
27 by the Speaker of the House.
28Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair
29 and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the committee.
30Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of committee. Resolved: That all
31 appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this
32 resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative
33 Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members,
34 the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the committee. If 30 days or more
35 after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been
36 made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for
37 the committee to meet and conduct its business.
38Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the committee shall study the feasibility of using
39 the State's sunflower crops to produce biofuels. As part of the study, the committee shall
40 review current and past legislation and biofuel projects in Hawaii as a potential model for
41 use in this State.
Page 2 - 132LR1642(01)
1Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide
2 necessary staffing services to the committee, except that Legislative Council staff support
3 is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
4Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 3, 2025, the committee
5 shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested
6 legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and
7 Technology and the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
8 The Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology and the Joint Standing
9 Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry are authorized to report out
10 legislation related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
11SUMMARY
12 This resolve establishes the Committee to Study the Use of Sunflower Crops to
13 Produce Biofuels, which is directed to study the feasibility of using the State's sunflower
14 crops to produce biofuels and review current and past legislation and biofuel projects in
15 Hawaii as a potential model for use in this State. The committee is required to submit a
16 report and suggested legislation by December 3, 2025 to the Joint Standing Committee on
17 Energy, Utilities and Technology and the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture,
18 Conservation and Forestry, which are authorized to report out legislation based on the
19 report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
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