HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 652        FILED ON: 1/16/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3229

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Aaron L. Saunders

_________________

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 prohibiting public and ratepayer funding of clearcutting forests and woodlands.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Aaron L. Saunders

7th Hampden

1/16/2023

Marcus S. Vaughn

9th Norfolk

1/20/2023

Jacob R. Oliveira

Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester

4/21/2023

Priscila S. Sousa

6th Middlesex

6/22/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 652        FILED ON: 1/16/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3229

By Representative Saunders of Belchertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3229) of Aaron L. Saunders and Marcus S. Vaughn relative to prohibiting public utility and ratepayer funding of clearcutting forests and woodlands.  Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act prohibiting public and ratepayer funding of clearcutting forests and woodlands.

 

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 to the contrary, the department of energy resources and department of public utilities shall amend any rules, regulations, and tariffs pursuant to section 11 of chapter 75 of the acts of 2016 or successor statute to prohibit from qualification any solar facility, including any solar energy generating source, that (1) has not received a statement of qualification, or similar official notice of approval, from the department prior to January 1, 2023 and (2) is greater than or equal to nameplate capacity of 500kW if such facility meets any of the following criteria:

(i)  is located within a parcel that includes priority habitat as delineated by the division of fisheries and wildlife under chapter 131A

(ii)  is located within an area of critical environmental concern as designated by the secretary of energy and environmental affairs

(iii) is located within forest land as defined in section 2 of chapter 61 of the general laws

SECTION 2. A prohibition established in Section 1 shall not apply to facilities located within a brownfield or within eligible landfills as determined by the commissioner of the department of energy resources; nor shall such prohibition apply to building mounted facilities or facilities sited upon previously developed land.