Amendment #22, as changed to H4738

Offshore Wind

Mrs. Haddad of Somerset moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

SECTION 7A. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of energy resources shall investigate the necessity, benefits and costs of requiring distribution companies, as defined in section 1 of chapter 164 of the General Laws, to conduct additional offshore wind generation solicitations and procurements of up to 1,600 megawatts of aggregate nameplate capacity, by December 31, 2035 in addition to those required by chapter 169 of the Acts of 2008, as amended by chapter 188 of the Acts of 2016.  The department shall determine whether additional solicitations and procurements are necessary to meet the commonwealth’s energy policy goals, including the goals of chapters 169 and 298 of the Acts of 2008. The department shall make recommendations that include, but are not limited to: (i) improvements to the procurement process outlined in chapter 188 of the acts of 2016; (ii) the effect on commercial fisheries and operations; (iii) the impact on ratepayers, including distribution customers; and (iv) the potential economic benefits of such a procurement. The department shall file the report with the house and senate clerks and the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy no later than July 31, 2019.