SECTION 1.Subsection (b) of section 83C of chapter 169 of the acts of 2008, as amended by chapter 188 of the acts of 2016, as amended by chapter 179 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended by striking out the figure “5,600” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 8,000.

SECTION 2.Subsection (b) of section 83C of chapter 169 of the acts of 2008, as amended by chapter 188 of the acts of 2016, as amended by chapter 179 of the acts of 2022, is hereby further amended by striking out the words:- "June 30, 2027" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- "June 30, 2026; provided, however, that said distribution companies enter into cost effective long-term contracts for offshore wind energy generation equal to approximately 3,241 megawatts of aggregate nameplate capacity not later than June 30, 2022".

SECTION 3.Subsection (b) of section 83C of chapter 169 of the acts of 2008, as amended by chapter 188 of the acts of 2016, as amended by chapter 179 of the acts of 2022, is hereby further amended by striking out the words:- ", if applicable,".

SECTION 4.Subsection (b) of section 83C of chapter 169 of the acts of 2008, as amended by chapter 188 of the acts of 2016, as amended by chapter 179 of the acts of 2022, is hereby further amended by striking out the words "24 months" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- "18 months."

SECTION 5.Subsection (b) of section 83C of chapter 169 of the acts of 2008, as amended by chapter 188 of the acts of 2016, as amended by chapter 179 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended by inserting the following subsection:-

(e) The winning bid shall create and foster employment and economic development in the Commonwealth and represent not less than twenty percent of the proposal’s overall score in the bids selection process. The winning bid shall be chosen by the selection committee which shall consider all proposals and criteria in subsection (d) when making a final decision.  The committee shall consist of the following members: the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, which shall be the chair; the attorney general; the secretary of the executive office of housing; the secretary of the executive office of economic development; the secretary of the executive office of labor and workforce development; and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy.