Full Title: An Act To Secure the Safety of Electrical Power Transmission Lines: Maine LD-131
Author(s): Maine State Rep. Andrea Boland
Publisher(s): Maine House of Representatives
Publication Date: January 1, 2013
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
This bill requires a person submitting a petition to the Public Utilities Commission for the purposes of receiving a certificate of public convenience and necessity for building a transmission line to include a description of design measures to be used that limit electromagnetic field levels and ensure the protection of the transmission and distribution system against damage from an electromagnetic pulse or a geomagnetic storm. The bill also requires the commission to consider electromagnetic field levels, electromagnetic pulse protections and geomagnetic storm protections when determining the public need for a transmission line.
This bill adds similar requirements for the deciding authority, when determining whether an energy infrastructure proposal is in the long-term interest of the State, to consider electromagnetic field levels and electromagnetic pulse and geomagnetic storm
dangers.
The bill directs the Public Utilities Commission, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection and within 6 months of the effective date of this Act, to adopt routine technical rules to identify effective design measures to limit electromagnetic field levels and ensure the protection of the transmission and distribution system against damage from an electromagnetic pulse or a geomagnetic storm.
Finally, the bill requires any transmission line currently under construction upon the effective date of the rules to incorporate design measures to limit electromagnetic field levels and ensure the protection of the transmission and distribution system against
damage from an electromagnetic pulse or a geomagnetic storm.