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Bill > LD502
ME LD502
ME LD502An Act to Promote Clean and Affordable Maine-sourced Bioenergy by Amending the Law Regarding Outdoor Wood Boilers and Outdoor Pellet Boilers
summary
Introduced
02/06/2025
02/06/2025
In Committee
02/06/2025
02/06/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
04/29/2025
04/29/2025
Introduced Session
132nd Legislature
Bill Summary
This bill amends the law regulating outdoor wood boilers, which include outdoor pellet boilers, as follows. 1. It allows an outdoor wood boiler meeting a particulate matter emission limit of 0.32 pounds per million British Thermal Units heat output to be exempt from property setback requirements as long as it meets applicable stack height requirements under Department of Environmental Protection rules. 2. It prohibits the department from adopting rules applicable to outdoor wood boilers that prohibit the emission of a smoke plume from an outdoor wood boiler, regardless of whether such emission remains upon the property of the owner of the outdoor wood boiler or crosses onto any adjacent land or buildings not owned by the owner.
AI Summary
This bill amends Maine's existing law regarding outdoor wood boilers (OWBs) and outdoor pellet boilers by making two significant changes. First, the bill increases the particulate matter emission limit from 0.06 to 0.32 pounds per million British Thermal Units (BTUs), which would allow more OWBs to be exempt from property setback requirements, provided they meet the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) stack height requirements. Second, the bill restricts the DEP from creating rules that would prohibit smoke plumes from OWBs, even if those smoke plumes extend beyond the owner's property onto adjacent lands or buildings. The bill also requires the DEP to adopt major substantive rules that include a specific definition of "nuisance condition" related to OWB operation. These changes appear designed to provide more flexibility for OWB owners and potentially reduce regulatory barriers to using wood-based heating technologies, which could be particularly relevant in rural areas of Maine with significant forestry resources.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (8)
Donald Ardell (R)*,
Roger Albert (R),
Susan Bernard (R),
Mark Blier (R),
Lucien Daigle (R),
Matt Harrington (R),
Reagan Paul (R),
Chad Perkins (R),
Last Action
Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) (on 04/29/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=502&snum=132 |
| Fiscal Note: Text | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_132nd/fiscalpdfs/FN050201.pdf |
| BillText | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0331&item=1&snum=132 |
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