Amendment #49 to H4912

Land Use Commission

Ms. Hogan of Stow moves to amend the bill, as amended, by adding the following new section:

“SECTION XXXX.  There shall be a Land Use Commission created and appointed by the Governor. The purpose of the Commission shall be to issue recommendations on land use restrictions within the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program and issue recommendations on developing land use policies that will encourage the conservation of open space, farm and forest lands in a responsible manner. The commission shall consider the economic viability of farmlands, forest management practices and the balance of farm preservation through utilization of solar as an economic tool. The commission will consider the social value of community solar projects and best practices of carbon sequestration.

The commission shall consist of eleven members; the commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources (the department) or their appointee who shall act as Chair; the executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association or their appointee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau or their appointee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Forest Alliance or their appointee; the Executive director of the Massachusetts Cranberry Growers Association or their appointee; an environmental group; a conservation group; a solar developer, a member of the community shared solar group; an active farm; a member of a low income community with community shared solar experience.

The department shall give assistance and staff the commission meetings. The members shall serve without compensation. The 225 CMR: 20.00: Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program regulations concerning Critical Natural Landscape shall not take effect until the Commission files a report with the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means; the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy and the department has opened a proceeding to make any changes that the commission may recommend on critical natural landscape and the use of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife BioMap2 framework within the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program for this purpose.

The Commission shall file a report by July 1, 2021."

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #49, as changed to H4912

Land Use Commission