Bill > LD741

This bill updates Maine's building energy regulations to enhance solar power adoption by modifying the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) requirements. Specifically, the legislation requires the inclusion of Appendix CB from the 2021 edition of the IECC for new commercial building construction, which likely provides technical guidelines for solar-ready building designs. The bill also establishes important exceptions to these new rules: commercial buildings that have already obtained all necessary permits and approvals before July 1, 2026, and buildings receiving funding from the Maine State Housing Authority will be exempt from the new solar-ready building standards. This approach allows for a gradual transition to more solar-friendly building practices while providing flexibility for existing projects and those with specific funding sources, ultimately aiming to increase the state's preparedness for broader solar power adoption in the commercial building sector.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=741&snum=132