Taking Action
Taking Action
The MEMA team works tirelessly to advocate for heating fuel dealers, motor fuels, and home comfort providers in Maine, and occasionally in Washington D.C. With your support, we have turned numerous challenges into opportunities by reviewing legislation, meeting with policymakers, and building strategic coalitions. Our efforts ensure MEMA remains a leading voice for businesses like yours.
MEMA’s Recent Victories
This law removed the 10-year limitation on underground oil storage tanks allowing double-walled tanks to continue in service indefinitely as long as the same testing requirements are satisfied.
This law amended definitions applicable to the sale of biodiesel, biomass-based diesel, biomass-based diesel blends and biodiesel blends according to meet the requirements of the most recent ASTM standards.
This resolve directed the Public Utilities Commission to convene a stakeholder group to discuss the provisions in law related to the “Dig Safe Law.” The resolve directed the commission to submit a report summarizing the stakeholder group’s discussion and any recommended legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.
This new law greatly reduce the administrative burdens associated with participation in the Dig Safe system without compromising safety. With the passage of LD 2261 you are not required to register the liquefied propane gas systems underground pipes that are located on a residential lot if:
- The residential lot has no more than one structure connected by underground pipes to the propane gas distribution system.
- The structure that is connected by underground pipes to a propane gas distribution system contains no more than two dwelling units.
- And, Propane gas tank is located 25 (Twenty-Five) feet or less from that structure
This bill provides that rules adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection regarding new motor vehicle emission standards, including rules to establish zero-emission requirements, are major substantive rules. It also provides that proposed rules before the Board of Environmental Protection on or after January 1, 2024 to incorporate the requirements of California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulation and California’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulation are major substantive rules.
MEMA worked as a founding member of the Mainers for Smart Energy Coalition to oppose the California’s Advanced Clean Cars II Program and the California Advanced Clean Trucks rule for two years. There were many proponents and opponents that shared comments orally on the proposed rule and in front of the Board of Environmental Protections. Even more were submitted in writing. There were four separate public hearings on the issue, all lengthy. The BEP Board Chair, Susan Lessard said that over 1,100 comments were submitted and that this was by far the most comments she has ever seen submitted on an issue facing the BEP. BEP voted against both these proposals. Upsetting to many environmental groups, but a big win for MEMA and the industry.
MEMA ‘s continued partnership with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) continues to be successful. On September 1, 2025, the PUC reduced the excavation safety buffer from 500 feet to 300 feet. Prior to September 1, 2025, Dig Safe applied a 500-foot safety buffer around excavation sites as submitted on a ticket. The buffer enables the system to come up with a list of participating utilities to be notified for a mark out. Reducing the buffer to 300 feet helps reduce some unnecessary notifications to MEMA members while maintaining excavation safety.
This law prohibits municipalities from prohibiting an individual or entity from using a heating or energy system for that individual's or entity's own heating or energy needs, including the heating or energy needs of a motor vehicle, or engaging the services of a person or energy distributor of that individual's or entity's choice unless the prohibition is otherwise authorized by statute.
This bill would have prohibited the sale and distribution of flavored tobacco products, including flavored cigars and electronic smoking devices.
Top 5 Ongoing Issues in 2026
This bill requires owners and operators of oil terminal facilities to develop and implement community notification plans in which members of the public upon request are notified electronically within 24-hours of the transfer of oil between the facility and a vessel, between a vessel and another vessel or between the facility and a vehicle. The community notification plan is subject to review and approval by the Department of Environmental Protection and the municipality in which the facility is located and must be posted on a publicly accessible website. Owners and operators of existing oil terminal facilities are required to submit a community notification plan for review by the department and the municipality by January 1, 2026 and implement and publicly post the plan by July 1, 2026. The owners and operators must provide an update of the plan on July 1st annually thereafter.
This bill establishes the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program within the Department of Environmental Protection. Under the program, an entity or a successor in interest to an entity that was engaged in the trade or business of extracting fossil fuel or refining crude oil between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2024 is assessed a cost recovery demand for the entity's share of fossil fuel extraction or refinement contributing to greenhouse gas-related costs in the State. An entity is assessed a cost recovery demand only if the department determines that the entity's products were responsible for more than one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Cost recovery payments received by the department are deposited into the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program Fund to provide funding for recovery of the costs to develop and implement the program and fund and for climate change adaptation projects in the State, which the department is directed to prioritize through the adoption of a resilience implementation strategy and to ensure that at least 35% of the funds are used for climate change adaptation projects that benefit low income persons with environmental justice concerns.
LIHEAP reform in Maine is facing major strain: with nearly 70% of HEAP funds committed by March 2025, MaineHousing has shifted to a wait-list for new applications. At the same time, emergency heating aid through the ECIP program has been cut from a $800 one-time benefit down to $500 in 2025–26, a move intended to stretch limited funds further but criticized for reducing support to families in crisis. At the same time the programs inconsistencies, reporting requirements and reimbursements continue to be a growing burden with the vendors. MEMA has committed to working with MaineHousing and other policy leaders to find solutions that benefit both vendors and customers.
MEMA is seeking new policies to expand the pool of qualified technicians and drivers, aiming to address persistent workforce shortages that are slowing service delivery and raising costs for businesses and consumers. Proposed measures include strengthening career-training pipelines, offering incentives for students, and improving licensing pathways to bring more workers into the field quickly without compromising safety or standards. By widening access to training and reducing barriers to entry, MEMA hopes to build a more reliable, sustainable workforce to meet growing demand.
MEMA continues to strongly oppose proposed statewide flavored-tobacco bans on behalf of MEMA’s convenience store members, arguing it unfairly restricts adult choice, hurts small local retailers, and could drive demand underground. Critics say such a blanket ban would force longtime consumers to return to combustible cigarettes or risky unregulated markets, rather than use safer alternatives like vaping.
Imagine What Might Be Possible With Even Greater Support.
Membership dues don't fully cover the increasing costs of these efforts. Please consider a generous contribution to the Energy PAC for Maine so we can continue ensuring your business has a fair chance in today's challenging environment.