Mills creates cabinet-level position for energy department

File photo / Courtesy Office of Gov. Mills Dan Burgess has been named acting commissioner of the new Maine Department of Energy Resources, subject to approval by state lawmakers.

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By Renee Cordes

Maine aims to join more than 40 states with cabinet-level energy commissioners to lead the state’s energy department, programs and planning, Gov. Janet Mills announced.

The Maine Department of Energy Resources would continue the work of the Governor’s Energy Office in setting policy and coordinating with national, state and regional entities. It would also assume new authority granted by lawmakers to conduct energy procurements from clean, cost-effective sources with approval from the state’s utilities regulator.

Dan Burgess, director of the Governor’s Energy Office since 2019, has been named acting commissioner, subject to approval by state lawmakers.

"By elevating energy to cabinet level, the department will have the people, tools and authority to plan to strengthen our grid, and promote cost-effective energy solutions for Maine,” Burgess said. “Our focus will be on practical actions that benefit Maine families and businesses today, while preparing for a secure and reliable energy future."

First created in 1973 as the Maine Office of Energy Resources, the office has been renamed and reorganized multiple times, most recently as the Governor's Energy Office.

The new department will coordinate closely with the Maine Public Utilities Commission, other state agencies and regional entities to ensure Maine's energy policies promote affordability, reliability and economic growth, according to the announcement.

Patrick Woodcock, president and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, said the organization applauds the move.

“The Maine State Chamber of Commerce supported this initiative, as addressing energy affordability and meeting our state's climate targets will require careful planning and execution," he said. "We look forward to working with the administration on those efforts with this cabinet-level department."

Next steps

The commissioner's position is a cabinet-level appointment, subject to a hearing before the Legislature's Energy and Utilities Committee and confirmation by the Maine State Senate.

The department will be organized by divisions to fulfill its statutory requirements, focusing on energy planning and policy, supply and security, efficiency and economy and innovation.

Burgess has appointed Celina Cunningham, deputy director of the Governor’s Energy Office since 2020, as deputy commissioner.