HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1627        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1763

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul W. Mark

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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 creating a green bank to promote clean energy in Massachusetts.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1627        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1763

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3532 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act creating a green bank to promote clean energy in Massachusetts.

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

The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 21A the following chapter:-

CHAPTER 21A½.

THE MASSACHUSETTS GREEN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT BANK.

Section 1.  As used in this chapter the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:-

“Bank”, the Massachusetts Green Energy Development Bank established pursuant to section 2.

“Board”, the Massachusetts Green Energy Finance Board established pursuant to section 3.

“Bonds” or “notes”, such bonds and notes as are issued by the bank pursuant to this chapter.

“Energy improvements”, any renovation or retrofitting of commercial real property to reduce energy consumption or installation of a renewable energy system to service commercial real property.

“Energy technologies”, all methods used to produce, distribute, conserve and store energy or otherwise improve the efficiency of energy utilization, which emphasize renewable energy sources, including, but not limited to, solar, wind, bioconversion and solid waste, and which aim to preserve and protect the environment and public health and safety.

Section 2.  (a) There is hereby created a body politic and corporate to be known as the Massachusetts Green Energy Development Bank. The bank is hereby constituted a public instrumentality and the exercise by the bank of the powers conferred by this chapter shall be considered to be the performance of an essential governmental function.

The bank is hereby placed in the executive office of the governor but shall not be subject to the supervision or control of said office, or of any board, bureau, department or other center of the commonwealth, except as specifically provided in this chapter.

(b) The bank shall be governed by the board and shall continue as long as it shall have bonds or notes or guarantee commitments outstanding and until its existence is terminated by law. Upon the termination of the existence of the bank, all right, title and interest in and to all of its assets and all of its obligations, duties, covenants, agreements and obligations shall vest in and be possessed, performed and assumed by the commonwealth.

(c) It shall be the duty and purpose of the bank to: (1) evaluate and coordinate financing for energy improvements and energy technologies throughout the commonwealth; (2) provide loans, loan guarantees, debt securitization, insurance, portfolio insurance, and other forms of financing support or risk management to qualified energy improvements and energy technologies; (3) facilitate the financing of long-term energy improvement and energy technology purchasing by governmental and non-governmental not-for-profit entities; (4) foster the development and consistent application of transparent underwriting standards, standard contractual terms, and measurement and verification protocols for qualified energy improvements and energy technologies; (5) promote and facilitate the financing of energy improvements and energy technologies in the commonwealth that will abate climate change by increasing zero or low carbon electricity generation and transportation capabilities; (6) ease the economic effects of transitioning from a carbon-based economy to a clean energy economy; (7) facilitate job creation through the construction and operation of energy improvement and energy technology; and (8) work to eliminate the use of fossil fuels and carbon emitting fuels throughout the commonwealth.

Section 3. (b) The bank shall be governed and its corporate powers exercised by a board of directors known as the Massachusetts Green Energy Finance Board. The board shall consist of 7 members appointed by the governor for a term of 4 years, 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of banks, who shall serve ex officio, 1 of whom shall be the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, who shall serve ex officio, 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the Massachusetts clean energy technology center, 2 of whom shall be experienced in the field of public or private finance and management, and 2 of whom shall be engineers with at least 10 years’ experience in the field of renewable energy or energy efficiency.  The members shall annually elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson of the board.  Each director shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of their duties, including reimbursement for reasonable travel; provided, however, that such reimbursement shall not exceed $3000 annually. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of a member of the board shall be appointed in a like manner and shall serve for only the unexpired term of such former member. Any director shall be eligible for reappointment. Any director may be removed from his appointment by the governor for cause.

(c) A majority of directors shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present at a duly called meeting, if a quorum is present, shall be necessary for any action to be taken by the board. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the directors may be taken without a meeting if all of the directors consent in writing to such action and such written consent is filed with the records of the minutes of the meetings of the board. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote at a meeting. Each director shall make full disclosure, under subsection (d), of his financial interest, if any, in matters before the board by notifying the state ethics commission, in writing, and shall abstain from voting on any matter before the board in which he has a financial interest, unless otherwise permissible under chapter 268A.

(d) Chapters 268A and 268B shall apply to all ex-officio directors and employees of the bank. Said chapters 268A and 268B shall apply to all other directors, except that the bank may purchase from, sell to, borrow from, loan to, contract with or otherwise deal with any person in which any director of the bank is in any way interested or involved; provided, however, that such interest or involvement is disclosed in advance to the members of the board and recorded in the minutes of the board; and provided, further, that no director having such an interest or involvement may participate in any decision of the board relating to such person. Employment by the commonwealth or service in any agency thereof shall not be deemed to be such an interest or involvement.

(e) The board shall have the power to appoint and employ an executive director who shall be the chief executive, administrative and operational officer of the bank and shall direct and supervise the administrative affairs and the general management of the bank. The executive director shall appoint and employ a chief financial and accounting officer and may, subject to the general supervision of the board, employ other employees, consultants, agents, including legal counsel and advisors, and shall attend meetings of the board.  No funds shall be loaned, transferred or otherwise dispersed by the bank without the approval of the board and the signatures of the chief financial and accounting officer of the bank.

(f) The board shall bi-annually elect 1 of its members as treasurer and 1 of its members as secretary. The secretary of the board shall keep a record of the proceedings of the board and shall be custodian of all books, documents, and papers filed by the board and of its minute book and seal. The secretary of the board shall cause copies to be made of all minutes and other records and documents of the bank and shall certify that such copies are true copies, and all persons dealing with the bank may rely upon such certification.

(g) All officers and employees of the bank having access to its cash or negotiable securities shall give bond to the bank at its expense in such amounts and with such surety as the board may prescribe. The persons required to give bond may be included in 1 or more blanket or scheduled bonds.

(h) Board members and officers who are not compensated employees of the bank shall not be liable to the commonwealth, to the bank or to any other person as a result of their activities, whether ministerial or discretionary, as such board members or officers except for willful dishonesty or intentional violations of law. Neither members of the board nor any person executing bonds or policies of insurance shall be liable personally thereon or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof. The board may purchase liability insurance for board members, officers and employees of the bank and may indemnify such persons against claims of others.

(k) The board shall adopt a written policy providing for the delegation in writing of any of its powers and duties.

Section 4. The bank shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate its purposes including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power to:

(1) adopt and amend by-laws, regulations and procedures for the governance of its affairs and the conduct of its business for the administration and enforcement of this chapter; provided, however, that regulations adopted by the bank shall be adopted pursuant to chapter 30A;

(2) exercise any powers necessary for the commonwealth to be in compliance federal law;

(3) maintain offices at places within the commonwealth as it may determine and to conduct meetings of the bank in accordance with its by-laws;

(4) promote economy and efficiency and to leverage federal funding and private sector investment;

(5) develop and administer a long-term energy improvement and energy technology plan for the commonwealth;

(6) establish criteria and establish procedures for project selection for use in selecting qualifying energy improvements and energy technologies to receive funds pursuant to section 5;

(7) enter into agreements and transactions with federal, state and municipal agencies and other public institutions and private individuals, partnerships, firms, corporations, associations and other entities on behalf of the bank;

(8) institute and administer separate accounts and funds for the purposes of making allocations, grants or loans to qualifying energy improvements and energy technologies to receive funds pursuant to section 5;

(9) sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded; and

(10) issue bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness as provided in this chapter.

Section 5. (a) The bank may set up and maintain such separate funds and accounts as are necessary to provide and direct funding to qualifying energy improvements or energy technologies.  Such funds or accounts shall be credited with any appropriations authorized by the general court, bond or note proceeds, grants, gifts, donations, bequests or other monies received in accordance with the law. The bank may make loans from such funds or accounts, in accordance with the terms of subsection (c).

(b) The bank may issue and sell bonds or notes of the bank for the purpose of providing funds to finance qualifying energy improvements or energy technologies.   Any bond or note issued under this section: (1) shall constitute the corporate obligation of the bank; (2) shall not constitute a debt of the commonwealth within the meaning or application of the constitution of the commonwealth; and (3) shall be payable solely as to both principal and interest from (i) the proceeds of bonds or notes, if any; (ii) investment earnings on the proceeds of bonds or notes; or (iii) other funds available to the bank for such purpose.

(c) The board shall develop a comprehensive application process by which persons may submit plans for energy improvements or energy technologies for review and approval by the bank.  An approved energy improvement or energy technology plan shall be considered a qualifying plan.  The bank shall enter into funding agreements with the proponents of such qualifying plans which shall detail the terms of a disbursement of funds from the bank for the plan and specific terms for the repayment or recoupment of funds.

Section 6. The board may issue rules and regulations as necessary to implement this chapter.