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Voluntary Renewable Resources Fund
M.R.S.A. Title 35-A §3210 “Renewable Resources” provides for development of renewable, efficient, and indigenous resources of electricity production in this State. Section 5 “Funding for research and development; community demonstration projects,” establishes the collection and distribution of a voluntary fund for research at the State’s publicly funded universities, or demonstration projects at certain community based organizations. Organizations eligible to apply:
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The VRRF Grant helps Middle School of the Kennebunks launch solar program. |
Maine-based nonprofit organizations that qualify under the federal Internal Revenue Code Section 501 (c)(3), consumer-owned electric cooperatives, quasi-municipal corporations and districts, community based nonprofit organizations and community action programs using renewable energy technologies meeting the definition of “Renewable Resource” as provided by Title 35-A §3210.2.C (1) and (2)
The Voluntary Renewable Resources Fund was established by the Legislature in 2000 and is supported by contributions made by consumers on their electric bill. The Voluntary Renewable Resources Fund funds (as funds are available) small-scale community projects that will serve as demonstration projects designed to educate the community on the value and cost-effectiveness of harnessing natural resources for clean electricity.
PUC Commissioner Kurt Adams, recently described the fund: "The Voluntary Renewable Resources Fund is an innovative approach to providing power, creating jobs and protecting the environment as it allows all electricity consumers the opportunity, personally, to support the expansion of a clean energy market in our state. Maine is a state rich in natural resources and this fund encourages the development of clean energy projects small in scale that can be replicated community to community. Our hope is that as these projects become more prevalent throughout the state, more communities will want to pursue renewable energy projects".
The Voluntary Renewable Resources Fund awarded a grant to the Chewonki Foundation of Wiscasset and the Hydrogen Energy Center of Portland for the construction of a hydrogen fuel cell demonstration system, which promotes the use of hydrogen as a storage medium for renewable energy resources in 2003.
A grant application cycle for demonstration projects is closed. Award recipients were announced in October, 2007.
2007 Voluntary Renewable Resource Fund Annual Report
For more information on the Voluntary Renewable Resource Fund, contact Shirley Bartlett, Efficiency Maine Program Manager, at 287-3318 or shirley.bartlett@maine.gov
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Public
Utilities Commission