HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3214        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2954

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Stephen Kulik

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to renewable energy certificates.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3214        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2954

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act relative to renewable energy certificates.

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.  Paragraph  (6) of subsection (c) of section 11F of chapter 25A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out clause  (i) and inserting in place thereof, the following clause:- 

(i) at the time of filing with the Department for qualification as a renewable energy generating source, each such new facility or increased capacity or efficiency at each such existing facility, must meet appropriate and site-specific standards that address adequate and healthy river flows, water quality standards, fish passage and protection measures and mitigation and enhancement opportunities in the impacted watershed as determined by the department in consultation with relevant state and federal agencies having oversight and jurisdiction over hydropower facilities

SECTION 2.  Subsection (d) of said section 11F of Chapter 25A, as amended by section 16 of chapter 209 of the Acts of 2012, is hereby further amended by striking out paragraph (6) and inserting in place thereof, the following paragraph:-

(6) energy generated by existing hydroelectric facilities, provided at the time of filing with the Department for qualification as a renewable energy generating source such existing facility shall meet appropriate and site-specific standards that address adequate and healthy river flows, water quality standards, fish passage and protection measures and mitigation and enhancement opportunities in the impacted watershed as determined by the department in consultation with relevant state and federal agencies having oversight and jurisdiction over hydropower facilities; and provided further, that only energy from existing facilities up to 7.5 megawatts shall be considered renewable energy and no such facility shall involve pumped storage of water nor construction of any new dam or water diversion structure constructed later than January 1, 1998;