Amendment #778 to H4000

Cost/benefit analysis of new energy projects

Representatives O'Connell of Taunton, Diehl of Whitman and Lombardo of Billerica move to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

“SECTION XXXX: SECTION 1. Section 69H of chapter 164 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 9 to 12, the words “; provided, however, that the board shall review only the environmental impacts of generating facilities, consistent with the commonwealth's policy of allowing market forces to determine the need for and cost of such facilities”.

SECTION 2. Section 69J ¼ of said chapter 164 , as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 40, the words “and (v)” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- (v) a description of the potential benefits of the proposed generating facility; (vi) the estimated financial cost of construction; and (vii).

SECTION 3. The fourth paragraph of said section 69J ¼ of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the first and second sentences and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:-

The board may, after public notice and a period for comment, issue and revise its own list of guidelines; provided, however, the board shall require applicants to submit data that enables the board to review the local and regional land use impact, local and regional cumulative health impact, water resource impact, wetlands impact, air quality impact, solid waste impact, radiation impact, visual impact, noise impact, potential benefits and financial cost of the proposed generating facility; provided, further, the board shall analyze and assess the potential benefits and financial cost of the proposed generating facility.

SECTION 4. Said section 69J ¼ of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 76, the words “and (v)” and inserting in place thereof the following: (v) the potential benefits are greater than or equal to the financial cost of the proposed generating facility as estimated by the board; and (vi).

SECTION 5. Said section 69J ¼ of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 81, the words “, the cost of, or”.”