Amendment #4 to H3987

Municipal Support

Ms. Peake of Provincetown moves to amend the bill in section 3 by adding the following subsection:

(i)  Municipalities may endorse one or more projects by an electric distribution company constructing, owning and operating generation facilities within the municipality that produce solar energy or solar generation facilities paired, where feasible, with energy storage facilities designed to improve municipal climate adaptation and resiliency, mitigate the impacts of climate change, reduce carbon emissions, implement energy efficient or conservation measures, improve the energy efficiency of publicly-owned buildings or contribute to the Commonwealth meeting its carbon emissions limits established in section 3 of chapter 21N.  Notwithstanding sections 1B to 1H of chapter 164, inclusive, electric distribution companies shall be eligible to assist a municipality in furthering its climate adaptation and resiliency goals by constructing, owning and operating solar generation facilities or solar generation facilities paired, where feasible, with energy storage facilities within a municipality at no cost to the municipality provided that such facilities shall receive department approval for cost recovery.  Affirmation of municipal support shall be presented to the department by an electric distribution company in any petition for pre-approval of cost recovery for a solar energy generating facility and energy storage facility, where deemed feasible, and the department shall determine whether the proposal is consistent with the commonwealth’s energy policy, contributes to the climate change resiliency of the host municipality, or mitigates peak energy demand.  The department may adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement this section.