01 M.R.S. 01, 001, ch. 575 - PERMITTING SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS ON HIGH VALUE-AGRICULTURAL LAND

  1. § 001-575-1 - PREAMBLE
  2. § 001-575-2 - DEFINITIONS
  3. § 001-575-3 - APPLICABILITY
  4. § 001-575-4 - PERMIT STANDARDS
  5. § 001-575-5 - PERMIT PROCESS
  6. § 001-575-6 - DUAL-USE AGRICULTURE AND SOLAR PRODUCTION
  7. § 001-575-7 - COMPENSATION REQUIREMENTS
  8. § 001-575-8 - PRE-APPLICATION AND PRE-SUBMISSION MEETINGS
  9. § 001-575-9 - ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
  10. § 001-575-10 - APPLICATION FEE SCHEDULE
  11. § 001-575-11 - FINAL ACTION
  12. § 001-575-12 - APPEALS
  13. § 001-575-13 - VIOLATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT
  14. § 001-575-14 - DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

SUMMARY: "An Act Regarding Compensation Fees and Related Conservation Efforts to Protect Soils and Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat from Solar and Wind Energy Development and High-impact Electric Transmission Lines Under the Site Location of Development Laws" was enacted by the first regular session of the 131st legislature (P.L. 2023, Ch. 448). The P.L. establishes roles in the permitting and compensation processes for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) and for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), as well as delegated roles for the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) and municipalities. The rules within this chapter establish the procedures for administering P.L. 2023, Ch. 448, including:

Defining "high-value agricultural land" (HVAL); Establishing tiers of HVAL with variable compensation amounts for each tier; Defining "dual-use agricultural and solar production;" Implementing a permitting program for solar energy development on HVAL, including provisions for delegating permitting authority to the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) and municipalities; and Implementing other administrative procedures not specified in the legislation, including enforcement.

Notes

01 M.R.S. 01, 001, ch. 575
EFFECTIVE DATE (NEW):
4/20/2025 - filing 2025-088

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: P.L. 2023, Ch. 448

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