WHEREAS, the Commonwealth encourages the reduction of usage and demand of fossil fuels, and a reduction of harmful emissions; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth is already developing and encouraging the use of alternative Energy by implementing renewable energy portfolio standards for retail electricity suppliers, and

WHEREAS, current RPS polices require an increasing portion of the state's electricity consumption to come from renewable power sources, and

WHEREAS, improved efficiency and conservation of energy is an effective strategy for lessening dependence on fossil fuels and addressing global climate change, and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has an interest in encouraging retail electricity suppliers to expand investment in energy efficiency and energy conservation programs, and

WHEREAS, there is a national trend to expand the RPS portfolio options to encourage reduction of energy demand through energy efficiency and energy conservation to address global climate change, and

WHEREAS, there is a great potential for achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through enhanced energy efficiency and energy conservation programs, and

WHEREAS, energy efficiency and energy conservation are inexpensive and immediately deployable climate change solutions, and

WHEREAS, electricity energy efficiency programs in the Commonwealth are currently meeting only one-third of the annual growth in electricity demand, and

WHEREAS, expanding PRS portfolio options to encourage reduction of energy demand will help address these important issues,

NOW, THEREFORE,

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, Chapter 25A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 11 F 1/2 (d), added by 2008, 169, Sec. 32 effective January 1, 2009. See 2008, 169, Sec. 119, the following Section:

Section e.

(e) The Department shall incorporate such measures into the alternative energy portfolio standard for all retail electricity suppliers selling electricity to end-use customers in the Commonwealth to allow for energy efficiency and energy conservation to constitute up to five percent of the alternative energy portfolio. The department shall adopt regulations that establish the means through which a supplier can comply with this provision.