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A Victory for Consumer Choice
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A Victory for Consumer Choice
Governor Mills Signs LD 556 into Law
After a narrow vote and strong industry advocacy, Mainers will retain the right to choose how they heat their homes and power their vehicles.
After weeks of uncertainty, the Energy Choice bill (LD 556) has officially become law in Maine.
Initially tabled in the Senate, the bill was brought to a vote on June 16 but fell short by just one vote. The following day, it moved to the House, where it passed narrowly, 81–76, and returned to the Senate for reconsideration. On June 25, the Senate voted in favor, 18–14, sending the bill to Governor Janet Mills’ desk. Despite pressure from environmental special interest groups urging a veto, Governor Mills signed LD 556 into law on July 1.
This is a major victory for Energy Choice in Maine—and for our industry.
MEMA and its members mobilized quickly, and your efforts made a real impact. Every phone call, email, letter, and personal conversation helped push this bill across the finish line.
We did it—together.
Thanks to you, Mainers will continue to have the freedom to choose how they heat their homes and businesses and what vehicles they drive. This is a win worth celebrating.Thank you for your unwavering support, and thank you Governor Mills for protecting our industry and the people of Maine’s right to choose what works for them in their home.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR ENERGY CHOICE CHAMPIONS!
IT’S AMAZING WHAT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAN DO WHEN THEY WORK TOGETHER!
BILL SPONSOR: Senator Matt Harrington (R-York)
SENATE DISTRICT 33: In York County: Alfred; Lebanon; Sanford; and Waterboro.
“As the sponsor of energy choice in 2023 and in 2025, I am proud that we were able to safeguard individual choice so that Mainers can continue to do what makes sense for them economically and environmentally.”
LEAD DEMOCRAT CO-SPONSOR: Senator Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot)
SENATE DISTRICT 9: In Penobscot County: Bangor and Hermon.
“I believe Maine needs to continue to adopt an “all of the above approach” as it relates to energy policy to make sure home and business heating is affordable for the future. I am proud that the Legislature was able to accomplish a bipartisan strategy relating to energy policy this session.”
We couldn’t have done it without the bipartisan support of both the Senate and the House. If you see these legislators, please be sure to thank them for supporting our industry and our neighbors.
Senator Rick Bennett – District 18 (Oxford County)
Senator Sue Bernard – District 1 (Aroostook County)
Senator Bruce Bickford – District 20 (Androscoggin County)
Senator Russell Black – District 5 (Franklin County)
Senator Richard Bradstreet – District 15 (Kennebec County)
Senator Scott Cyrway – District 16 (Kennebec County)
Senator Brad Farrin – District 3 (Somerset County)
Senator Stacey Guerin – District 4 (Penobscot County)
Senator David Haggan – District 10 (Penobscot County)
Senator Craig Hickman – District 14 (Kennebec County)
Senator Jim Libby – District 22 (Cumberland County)
Senator Joe Martin – District 19 (Oxford County)
Senator Marianne Moore – District 6 (Washington County)
Senator Tim Nangle – District 26 (Cumberland County)
Senator Jeff Timberlake – District 17 (Androscoggin County)
Representative Jeff Adams – District 144 (Lebanon)
Representative Roger Albert – District 2 (Madawaska)
Representative Amy Arata – District 104 (New Gloucester)
Representative Donald Ardell – District 6 (Monticello)
Representative Mark Babin – District 3 (Fort Fairfield)
Representative Barbara Bagshaw – District 106 (Windham)
Representative Steven Bishop – District 17 (Bucksport)
Representative Mark Blier – District 138 (Buxton)
Representative David Boyer – District 87 (Poland)
Representative Richard Campbell – 19 District (Orrington)
Representative Nathan Carlow – District 137 (Buxton)
Representative Elizabeth Caruso – District 72 (Caratunk)
Representative Quentin Chapman – District 88 (Auburn)
Representative Marygrace Cimino – District 83 (Bridgton)
Representative Amanda Collamore – District 68 (Pittsfield)
Representative Alicia Collins – District 61 (Sidney)
Representative Mark Cooper – District 107 (Windham)
Representative Lydia Crafts – District 46 (Newcastle)
Representative Dean Cray – District 69 (Palmyra)
Representative Lucien Daigle – District 1 (Fort Kent)
Representative James Dill – District 26 (Old Town)
Representative Gary Drinkwater – District 27 (Milford)
Representative Jack Ducharme – District 71 (Madison)
Representative John Eder – District 136 (Waterboro)
Representative Billy Bob Faulkingham – District 12 (Winter Harbor)
Representative Paul Flynn – District 62 (Albion)
Representative Robert Foley – District 145 (Wells)
Representative Steven Foster – District 32 (Dexter)
Representative Ann Fredericks – District 143 (Sanford)
Representative Ken Fredette – District 33 (Newport)
Representative Irene Gifford – District 28 (Lincoln)
Representative Cheryl Golek – District 99 (Harpswell)
Representative Tim Guerrette – District 4 (Caribou)
Representative Kimberly Haggan – District 36 (Hampden)
Representative Randall Hall – District 74 (Wilton)
Representative Tavis Hasenfus – District 57 (Readfield)
Representative Rachel Henderson – District 78 (Rumford)
Representative Alliston Hepler – District 49 (Woolwich)
Representative Benjamin Hymes – District 38 (Waldo)
Representative Caldwell Jackson – District 80 (Oxford)
Representative Kathy Javner – District 29 (Chester)
Representative Michael Lance – District 79 (Paris)
Representative Lucas Lanigan – District 141 (Sanford)
Representative Thomas Lavigne – District 148 (Berwick)
Representative Adam Lee – District 89 (Auburn)
Representative Michael Lemelin – District 52 (Chelsea)
Representative Laurel Libby – District 90 (Auburn)
Representative Sheila Lyman – District 76 (Livermore Falls)
Representative Rick Mason – District 97 (Lisbon)
Representative David McIntyre – District 18 (Lowell)
Representative Arthur Mingo – District 9 (Calais)
Representative Joshua Morris – District 91 (Turner)
Representative Bob Nutting – District 66 (Oakland)
Representative Rolf Olsen – District 86 (Raymond)
Representative Wayne Parry – District 140 (Arundel)
Representative Reagan Paul – District 37 (Winterport)
Representative Chad Perkins – District 31 (DoverFoxcroft)
Representative Jennifer Poirier – District 70 (Skowhegan)
Representative Kimberly – District 85 (Standish)
Representative Tracy Quint – District 8 (Hodgdon)
Representative Shelley Rudnicki – District 67 (Fairfield)
Representative Holly Sargent – District 147 (York)
Representative Tammy Schmersal-Burgess – District 77 (Mexico)
Representative Abden Simmons – District 45 (Waldoboro)
Representative Katrina Smith – District 62 (Palermo)
Representative Mike Soboleski – District 73 (Phillips)
Representative Tiffany Strout – District 11 (Harrington)
Representative Greg Swallow – District 7 (Houlton)
Representative James Thorne – District 35 (Carmel)
Representative William Tuell – District 10 (East Machias)
Representative Joe Underwood – District 5 (Presque Isle)
Representative Nathan Wadsworth – District 82 (Hiram)
Representative Mark Walker – District 84 (Naples)
Representative James White – District 30 (Guilford)
Representative Russell White – District 13 (Ellsworth)
Representative Peter Wood – District 81 (Norway)
Representative Stephen Wood – District 92 (Greene)
Representative Dave Woodsome – District 139 (Waterboro)
KEY SUPPORTERS
Senator Trey Stewart
Senate District 2
Aroostook County
Representative Randall Greenwood
House District 56
Wales/Litchfield/ Monmouth
(From left to right) Senator Matt Harrington, Charlie Summers, Maine Energy Marketers Association, and Senator Joe Baldacci at an Energy Choice press conference in Portland, Maine on October 3, 2024.
