Amendment ID: S2092-17-R1

Redraft Amendment 17

Energy Demand Plan

Messrs. Tarr and Ross move to amend the bill by inserting before SECTION 1 the following new section:-

SECTION XX. Chapter 21A of the General Laws as appearing in the 2014 official edition is hereby amended by inserting after section 26 the following new section:-

Section 27. During the first year of each new gubernatorial administration or the first year of a new gubernatorial term, the governor shall convene an energy planning council consisting of no fewer than 15 members: 1 of whom shall be the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, who shall serve as chair; 1 of whom shall be the secretary of administration and finance; 1 of whom shall be appointed by speaker of the house of representatives; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the house minority leader; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader and 9 of whom shall be appointed by the governor: 1 of whom shall represent consumers, 1 of whom who shall represent low income residents, 1 of whom who shall represent large employers, 1 of whom who shall represent small employers, 1 of whom who shall represent the renewable energy industry,  1 of whom who shall be from an environmental organization, 1 of whom shall represent investor owned local distribution company, and 1 of whom shall represent a municipal owned local distribution company. The governor may also appoint additional members of regional and local energy groups or collaboratives to serve on the council. Members of the council shall serve for a term of 1 year or until an energy development policy has been approved by the governor under this section.

The secretary of energy and environmental affairs, with the assistance of energy planning council appointed under this section, shall develop and implement a written comprehensive energy policy for the commonwealth and a strategic plan for implementing the policy. The plan shall be consistent with the climate adaption plan established in this act and shall include but not be limited to addressing, (1) the projected demand for energy in the commonwealth, (2) measures to meet the projected demand by evaluate the total potential costs and economic and noneconomic benefits of various measures to the economy, and environment, using the best available economic models, emissions estimation techniques and other scientific methods, (3) identifying energy from all available resources, and (4) considering all necessary changes to transmission infrastructure to meet projected demand goals.

Once the policy and plan have been adopted by the secretary and the council, the council shall submit the policy and plan to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies. The committee shall conduct a public hearing on the policy and plan prior to final approval by the governor. The approved policy and plan shall be published in writing and on the official website of the commonwealth not later than December 31 of that year.

The plan as established in this section shall be developed in 5 year increments and updated accordingly, and shall reflect any major energy development initiatives and programs of the secretariat and any agencies subject to this section. In developing the policy, the council shall review the published energy development policy and plan in effect at the commencement of the governor’s term of office and may hold public hearings throughout the commonwealth.