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AN ORDER ESTABLISHING THE MAINE HYDROGEN ENERGY FUEL CELL
PARTNERSHIP
WHEREAS, on June 1, 2006, I signed into law “An Act To Enhance Maine’s
Energy Independence and Security”, which law adopts a goal of
increasing renewable energy resources in Maine by 10 percent by 2017,
and adopts a policy that favors new renewable power resources within
this state and new capacity resources that emit no greenhouse gases on
net; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, I signed into law “An Act to Provide Leadership in
Addressing Climate Change”, which law sets a goal for the State of
Maine to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010, to 10%
below 1990 levels by 2020 and, in the long term, to levels sufficient
to eliminate any dangerous threat to the climate; and
WHEREAS, I am committed to making Maine state government a leader by
example with regard to sustainable energy practices that make Maine
more energy independent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to
adopting sustainable energy policies, practices, and programs
statewide; and
WHEREAS, the chemical element ‘hydrogen’ can be used as a storage
medium for electric energy made from renewable energy resources and
from resources with no net emissions of greenhouse gases, and can be
taken from storage and converted to electricity with no net emissions
of greenhouse gases; and
WHEREAS, hydrogen can be manufactured in the State of Maine using
Maine’s vast renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, tidal,
hydroelectric, and biomass, which will help Maine achieve goals to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase its energy independence;
and
WHEREAS, the hydrogen manufactured from Maine’s renewable resources
could be used as fuel for fuel cells to power equipment, including
electronic devices, buildings, trains, ships and highway vehicles; and
WHEREAS, the Maine Technology Institute and Maine Public Utilities
Commission have helped fund projects to inform Maine businesses,
tradespeople, government officials and consumers about renewable
hydrogen technologies through demonstrations and workshops; and
WHEREAS, a more rapid dissemination of information regarding these
renewable hydrogen technologies is important to achieving the goals of
energy independence and greenhouse gas emission reductions:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John E. Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine,
do hereby establish the Maine Hydrogen Energy Fuel Cell Partnership
(hereinafter “Partnership”).
Purpose and Duties
The purpose and duties of the Partnership are to:
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Accelerate the development and deployment of commercially viable hydrogen production, storage and distribution technologies;
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Accelerate the development and deployment of commercially viable fuel cells;
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Support the growth and development of hydrogen energy and fuel cell-related businesses in the state;
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Coordinate the dissemination of information regarding renewable hydrogen and initiatives for its manufacture and use;
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Identify members of the hydrogen energy and fuel cell business cluster;
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Identify and analyze the technical, scientific, financial,
legal, and regulatory obstacles to the development of commercially
viable hydrogen energy, fuel cell and related enabling technologies;
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Analyze the opportunities to leverage federal research and
development funding and improve the competitiveness of Maine entities
to attract such federal and other funding sources and to work with the
Maine Congressional delegation to that end;
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Identify and develop the parameters, mission, and a pro forma
budget for establishing and operating a hydrogen energy and fuel cell
research and testing center which may be located at a qualified Maine
institution of higher education;
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Develop an action plan, including funding recommendations, to
address the identified needs of Maine’s hydrogen energy and fuel cell
cluster and potential means to improve the global competitive position
of the cluster; and
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Stimulate development of private firms that will build hydrogen
energy and fuel cell technology products at facilities located in Maine
with Maine labor, giving special attention to the efficiencies and
other benefits of co-locating such hydrogen energy and fuel cell
cluster industries within economic development facilities where
research and development, manufacturing, testing, display and
production can happen in a mutually-supportive way for maximum
expansion of this industry cluster in Maine.
Composition of the Partnership
The Maine Hydrogen Energy Fuel Cell Partnership shall be composed of
thirteen members, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure
of, the Governor, and will be comprised of the following:
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The Director of the University of Maine’s School of Engineering
Technology, and the Chair of the University of Maine’s Department of
Chemistry, or their designees;
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Two members nominated by the Maine Hydrogen Energy Center;
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Two members nominated by the Chewonki Foundation;
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Three for-profit Maine business entities;
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Three entities, from Maine or elsewhere, with strong experience
in hydrogen energy or fuel cell development, to be nominated by the
other members of the Partnership; and
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The chair of the Partnership.
The members of the Partnership will serve without compensation.
Chair of the Partnership
The chair of the Partnership shall be an individual appointed by and
serving at the pleasure of the Governor, who will preside at, set the
agenda for, and schedule Partnership meetings. The Governor shall
select as the chair a person who has strong technical and strategic
background in hydrogen energy and fuel cell technology, experience in
the development of technology businesses, or other knowledge or
experience that will help advance the work of the Partnership. The
Governor may also designate a member of the Partnership to serve as
vice-chair of the Partnership.
Meetings, Reports and Recommendations
The Partnership shall meet as often as needed, and all their
meetings shall be open to the public. The Partnership shall report
annually to the Governor on the work of the Partnership, and may submit
recommendations to the Governor for state action or legislation needed
to advance the work of the Partnership or the development and use of
hydrogen energy and fuel cells.
Effective date
The effective date of this Executive Order is August 28, 2006.
John E. Baldacci, Governor
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