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Senate Bill LD1868 as amended on June 13, 2025 would create the category “Class III resources,” also to be known as “clean resources,” which would include: (1) Class I and IA resources; (2) resources that rely on a nuclear power plant or hydroelectric generator; and (3) resources certified by GEO to meet an emissions-based definition to be given by the Department of Environmental Protection. It would change the state goal of achieving 100% renewable retail electricity by 2050 to a 2040 goal of 90% of retail sales from renewable resources and 10% from clean resources.

The bill would add a Class III RPS obligation for competitive electricity providers (CEPs) that cannot be satisfied by resources used to satisfy Class I or IA obligations and would make it a condition of licensure. A CEP must purchase Class III RECs at least equaling 1% of its portfolio of supply sources for Maine retail electricity sales for 2031, with the obligation increasing by 1% each year, up to 10% in 2040 and thereafter. However, retail electricity sales pursuant to a supply contract or standard-offer service arrangement in effect on 9/30/25 are exempt from this requirement until the end of the existing terms.

In addition, the bill would give MEPUC the authority to coordinate with other states to procure transmission capacity, capacity resources, energy, and EACs.

On June 16 and 17, 2025 the amended bill was passed to be enacted by the House and subsequently was passed to be enacted by the Senate. Previously, on June 13, 2025, a majority favorable as amended report from Joint Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee accepted by the Senate, amendment read and adopted by the Senate, and the bill given second reading in the Senate and passed to be engrossed as amended. See amended description above.