Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Ensure a Just and Equitable Energy Transition for Maine's Workforce

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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1420
S.P. 576 In Senate, April 1, 2025
Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Ensure a Just and
Equitable Energy Transition for Maine's Workforce
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LAWRENCE of York.
Cosponsored by Senator: TIPPING of Penobscot, Representatives: GEIGER of Rockland,
KESSLER of South Portland.

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1Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission to Ensure a
2 Just and Equitable Energy Transition for Maine's Workforce, referred to in this resolve as
3 "the commission," is established.
4Sec. 2. Membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the
5 commission consists of 13 members appointed as follows:
6 1. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, including a
7 member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
8 2. Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the
9 House, including a member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats
10 in the Legislature;
11 3. Three public members, one of whom is a member of a labor organization that
12 represents workers in the energy industry, one of whom is a member of an environmental
13 organization and one of whom represents the interests of the renewable energy industry,
14 appointed by the President of the Senate;
15 4. Three public members, one of whom has professional expertise in conducting peer-
16 reviewed research regarding energy transition issues, one of whom resides in the First
17 Congressional District and one of whom resides in the Second Congressional District,
18 appointed by the Speaker of the House;
19 5. One member representing the Office of the Governor, appointed by the Governor;
20 6. One member representing the Public Utilities Commission, appointed by the chair
21 of the Public Utilities Commission; and
22 7. One member representing the Maine Apprenticeship Council, appointed by the chair
23 of the Maine Apprenticeship Council.
24Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair
25 and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the
26 commission.
27Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: That all
28 appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this
29 resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative
30 Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members,
31 the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more
32 after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been
33 made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for
34 the commission to meet and conduct its business.
35Sec. 5. Duties; meetings. Resolved: That the commission is authorized to meet 6
36 times and shall:
37 1. Review and evaluate the State's current energy workforce, including compensation
38 levels and benefits that are provided for workers in the energy industry;
39 2. Consider the current workforce demands of the State's energy industry and how best
40 to meet the needs of energy consumers, including the number and types of jobs needed to
41 achieve the State's energy policy and goals;
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1 3. Consider the current compensation levels, including benefits, associated with the
2 types of jobs needed to meet the State's energy policy and goals;
3 4. Review any current efforts to ensure individuals employed in the State's energy
4 industry experience a just and equitable transition to existing and potential future jobs in
5 the energy industry, including efforts to mitigate potential losses in compensation and
6 benefits, establish a career crosswalk of transferable skills and certifications and address
7 new or supplemental training needs;
8 5. Consider the economic impacts that the energy transition has on low-income
9 ratepayers, including but not limited to strategies to mitigate economic hardship to
10 low-income ratepayers;
11 6. Consider the benefits of a well-compensated workforce in the State as the benefits
12 pertain to careers that help the State meet its energy policy and goals; and
13 7. Examine how a coordinated and holistic statewide effort to ensure a just and
14 equitable energy transition for individuals employed in the State's energy industry could
15 benefit from the establishment of a state entity, a state framework or a coordinated effort
16 by the State dedicated to that purpose and how such an entity, framework or coordinated
17 effort could also help meet the needs of employers in the energy industry.
18Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the
19 Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission, except that
20 Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or
21 special session.
22Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, no later than
23 February 1, 2026, the commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and
24 recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing
25 Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology and the Joint Standing Committee on
26 Labor. The joint standing committees may each report out a bill based upon the report to
27 the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
28SUMMARY
29 This resolve establishes the Commission to Ensure a Just and Equitable Energy
30 Transition for Maine's Workforce.
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