Amendment #314 to H3600

Battery Testing Facility Feasibility Study

Mr. Goldstein-Rose of Amherst moves to amend the bill, in section 2, by inserting after item 7006-1003 the following item: “7006-1004: For supporting the special commission to study the feasibility of a battery testing facility in section XXXX … $50,000;”

and further moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

"SECTION XXXX.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission to study the feasibility, administration, and economic impact of a battery testing facility to be located in one of the four western counties. The commission shall consist of: the CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center or his designee; 1 member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; 1 member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; and 1 member appointed by the Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus.

The initial study shall evaluate potential sites and private partners, staffing, management systems and administration, and equipment needs for a center to take sound lab-stage ideas for battery technologies and manufacture test cells, conduct relevant measurements, coordinate with research labs, and build prototype and demonstration batteries and battery facilities to prove new technologies and make them available for Massachusetts industry. The commission shall study the potential economic development and job creation impacts of a fully functional battery testing facility. The commission may use funding in section 7006-1004 to hire staff and consultants.

The commission shall report to the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, the Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs not later than December 1, 2017."

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #314 to H3600

Battery Testing Facility Feasibility Study