Heat Pumps: Multi-year Legislative Effort
Jim Cohen and MSS have been at the forefront of promoting the use of efficient heat pumps in Maine.
Starting in 2012, Jim worked with Emera Maine (now Versant Power Company) to bring forward legislation through then-Governor Paul LePage authorizing transmission and distribution companies to engage in a limited pilot project to promote the use of efficient electric heating systems, including heat pumps. Over many months, Jim helped move LD 1864 forward by testifying on the bill, managing multiple committee amendments, working with public and private stakeholders, and directly lobbying key committee and legislative leaders. The bill ultimately passed, and the pilot project succeeded in demonstrating value to customers by helping to lower their energy costs, while at the same time reducing emissions as compared to burning fossil fuels.
Two years later, as part of the “Omnibus Energy Bill” of 2013, Jim successfully worked with members of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, along with other stakeholders, to include language allowing T&D companies to expand the heat pump pilot project to include an unlimited number of customers for an unlimited time period. In 2016, Jim helped Emera Maine with new legislation transforming the heat pump pilot project into a permanent program – including additional criteria by which transmission and distribution utilities could help their customers install heat pumps. To secure the eventual passage of LD 1558, Jim secured a bill sponsor, helped get the bill through Legislative Council, drafted and presented testimony, and following the public hearing, led extensive negotiations with the Maine PUC, Office of Public Advocate, Efficiency Maine Trust, and the Governor’s Energy Office. As a result of these negotiations, Jim was able to draft a detailed amendment to the original bill that addressed the concerns of all parties. He then worked closely with the Committee through several work sessions. The bill ultimately passed and was signed into law by former Governor Paul LePage.
During the time period in which Jim and Emera Maine worked on these different heat pump bills, market acceptance of heat pumps grew. Efficiency Maine Trust developed a successful rebate program encouraging the use of heat pumps, and Governor LePage installed numerous heat pumps at the Blaine House, the residence of Maine governors. In 2019, Maine Governor Janet Mills introduced legislation, LD 1766, encouraging the establishment of 100,000 heat pumps in Maine; this bill overwhelmingly passed the Legislature and was signed into law. Heat pumps continue to be a key part of addressing Maine’s affordable heating and climate change goals.
