Maine Renewable Energy Association

“The Association's Bylaws as amended during this tax year ending December 2024 made effective the following significant changes: 1. The types of memberships and their powers and privileges were revised. The amended bylaws state that the Board of Directors shall consist of no less than fifteen (15) and no more than twenty-one (21) directors. The types of members have been changed to Developer & Owner/Operator Members and Non-Producer Members. Members still elect the Board of Directors, with a best faith effort to have two-thirds of the board representing Developer & Owner/Operator Members and one-third of the board representing Non-Producer Members. 2. The amended bylaws also allow that the the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors shall appoint an Executive Director; and that the Executive Committee may act on behalf of the Corporation in any matter when the Board of Directors is not in session, reporting to the Board of Directors for its ratification of their action at each regular or special meeting called for the purpose. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 3. Amendments to Bylaws regarding staff responisibilities or financial limitations must be approved annually by the Executive Committee; the previous bylaws held no such requirement.”

“The purpose of the Maine Renewable Energy Association ("MREA", or the "Corporation") is to associate its members together for their mutual benefit as independent developers and producers of renewable electric energy. To fulfill this purpose, the Corporation allows for separate tiers of membership, as defined below: Developer & Owner/Operator Membership - Developer and owner/operator members are developing renewable energy generation and/or storage projects in Maine and/or own or operate renewable energy generation and/or storage projects in Maine as defined in Section E. Each such member qualifying for Developer & Owner/Operator membership and paying the relevant dues assessment shall be designated a Developer & Owner/Operator Member. Non-Producer Membership - Non-producer members are those companies that provide support to developer and owner/operator members through civil engineering, environmental permitting, legal counsel, repair, and other consulting services. Each such member qualifying for Non-producer membership and paying the relevant dues assessment shall be designated a Non-Producer Member. Governmental agencies, educators, public officials, advisors of renewable independent power producers and interested not-for-profit organizations shall qualify for non-voting membership. Non-voting membership shall be offered only by invitation of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Non-voting members shall not be entitled to vote on any corporate matters, nor run for, or hold any elective office. The different levels of membership are allowed different powers and privileges over the Board of Directors' composition and its governance decisions. Please refer to the explanations and disclosures on this Form 990 for Part VI, Line 7a for additional information.”

“The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall consist of no less than fifteen and no more than twenty-one individuals, with a best faith effort to meet the following representation as best possible: two-thirds of the board shall represent members from Developer & Owner/Operator Members with best faith effort to represent each fuel source identified in Section E with allowance of an individual representing more than one source; one-third of the board shall represent Non-Producer members representing a variety of industry sectors, including but not limited to civil engineering, environmental permitting, legal counsel, repair, and other consulting services. The Board of Directors shall be appointed or elected, as applicable, at the annual meeting or a special meeting by the various member groups to establish the Association's Board of Directors. (Please refer to the disclosures on this Form 990 for Part VI, Line 6, for additional information regarding the Association's various member groups.) Each appointed or elected Director to the Association's Board shall have one vote in the governance of the Organization. In the case that there are fewer nominees than available seats, the Executive Committee may make appointees with best effort to meet board representative objectives. Additionally, the Executive Committee, a sub-group consisting of less than the full Board of Directors, may also act on behalf of the Association when the full Board of Directors is not in session. Vacancies occurring by reason of removal of directors with or without cause by the members or for any other reason, including death, incapacity, or resignation, shall be filled by appointment or Board of Directors who appointed the vacating director, as applicable.”

“For the tax period covered by this Form 990, the Maine Renewable Energy Association ("MREA") engaged an independent public accounting firm to provide tax preparation and review services. The engaged accountants coordinated with key management and personnel of MREA to prepare a draft of the Form 990, which was made available to the Organization's Executive Director and the Board of Directors for their own review, comment, and approval prior to submission with the IRS.”

“The Organization may from time-to-time engage and compensate an Executive Director to assist the Organization in fulfilling its exempt purpose and mission. The compensation to and engagement of an Executive Director is subject to independent approval by the Board of Directors. Any compensation or benefits paid is based on agreed upon fair market rates relative to individual experience, performance, and standard rates for comparable professionals providing similar services.”

“The governing documents and Form 990 returns are available upon request.”

“Legislative and consulting services 70,180. Payroll administration 12,180.”