Gov. Janet Mills (D) has proposed elevating the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) to a cabinet-level department as part of her upcoming biennial budget proposal.
In a press release published Thursday, Gov. Mills suggested that establishing a Maine Department of Energy Resources “would allow for a more integrated, comprehensive, and consistent approach to the planning and management of Maine’s energy system, helping Maine more effectively prioritize affordable and reliable energy for all Maine people and businesses.”
According to her statement, making this move would be a “budget neutral initiative.”
Mills goes on to explain that Maine is one of only a few states to have an energy office located within the governor’s office, while more than 40 have cabinet-level energy offices.
Should this proposal be approved by lawmakers, the Department would serve as Maine’s designated state energy office, which Mills says is a role that is currently being filled by the GEO.
The Department would be responsible for the same core duties as the GEO while simultaneously gaining additional authority to “conduct competitive energy procurements to achieve Maine’s electric demand and reliability needs.”
Mills indicates in her Wednesday press release that if the Legislature approves the proposal, the GEO would transition to a cabinet-level department by the end of the year.
As with other cabinet-level departments, the Department of Energy Resources would be led by a commissioner appointed by the governor and confirmed by the appropriate committee and members of the Legislature.
Mills notes in her statement that House Republicans put forward similar legislation in 2017 to remove the Energy Office from the governor’s office and establish an energy seat in the cabinet.
“Energy plays an essential role in our daily lives and significantly impacts our economy, but it is not represented as a cabinet-level office here in Maine like it is in nearly every other state,” said Mills.
“Maine faces many energy-related challenges, including high costs, price volatility, aging and inefficient infrastructure, increasingly severe weather, and an over-reliance on expensive, imported fossil fuels,” Mills said. “By transitioning the Energy Office to a Department, we can strengthen our ability to bring down the cost of energy, ensure that our energy infrastructure is strong and reliable for all Maine people, and have a greater say in our energy future.”
“Transitioning to a standalone department will strengthen the work of the Governor’s Energy Office by ensuring a more durable and integrated structure that is able to take a comprehensive approach to energy planning and policy,” said Dan Burgess, Director of the GEO. “By designating a cabinet seat focused solely on energy issues, Maine will be in a stronger position to deliver more affordable energy, advance our energy goals, and grow the state’s economy.”
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