Testimony neither for nor against LD 1556

Senator Lawrence, Representative Berry, and members of the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology: my name is David Gibson, and I am a resident of Morrill. I am representing Sierra Club Maine and our 22,000 supporters and members across the state. We wanted to provide additional information for your consideration regarding: LD 1556 Resolve, To Create the Commission To Study and Recommend a Financing Model To Increase Capital Investment in Renewable Energy, Clean Energy Technology, Energy Eciency Projects and Jobs in Maine.

I am a Certified Energy Manager and LEED Accredited Professional for Building Design and Construction through the US Green Building Council. I have more than a decade of experience leading eciency and clean energy projects. I have led trainings for Realtors and mortgage lenders on Energy Ecient Mortgages, and helped to develop more than $50 million in Energy-Saving Performance Contracting projects while working for the Nevada Governor’s Oce of Energy. I also led eorts to create a Green Bank in Nevada, collaborating with the Coalition for Green Capital on the Nevada Green Bank Study, and culminating with the passage of legislation creating the Nevada Clean Energy Fund in 2017.

For LD 1556, most of the objectives of this study have already been achieved. I have worked closely with Representative Zeigler on LD 1659, An Act to Create the Maine Clean Energy Fund. LD 1659 employs the proven ‘Green Bank model’ which will improve residents' access to capital and ability to complete renewable energy, clean energy technology and energy eciency projects. LD 1659 will leverage private capital to increase investments in these types of projects and specifically allocates 40% of funding for low-income and other vulnerable communities. Working with an array of stakeholders, we have identified Eciency Maine Trust as the best entity to support and oversee the Accelerator.