Amendment ID: S2477-3

Amendment 3

Pumped Hydropower Storage Commission

Messrs. Crighton and O'Connor move that the proposed new draft be amended by adding at the end the following new section:-

SECTION X.  There shall be a commission to study the feasibility and potential benefits of the procurement of large scale pumped hydropower storage through contracts to assist the commonwealth in meeting its climate change goals.  The study shall include, but not be limited to, the following:  (a) current utilization of pumped hydropower storage in the ISO-NE control area and total available capacity; (b) examination of current ISO-NE market rules with regards to energy storage; (c) analysis of cost benefits to ratepayers of the commonwealth, if any, of pairing large-scale storage with long-term contracts procured under sections 83C and 83D of chapter 285 of the acts of 2016; and (d) analysis of benefits to energy demand if large-scale storage is paired.

The commission shall consist of the secretary of the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, or a designee, who shall be the chair of the commission; the commissioner of the department of energy resources, or a designee; the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on telecommunications utilities and energy; the chairman of the department of public utilities, or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, or a designee; and the following members who shall be appointed by the chair of the commission: 1 representative from an environmental organization; 1 representative of a pumped hydropower storage facility; and 1 representative from an electric distribution company.  The commission shall file a report with its findings, including any legislative and regulatory recommendations, with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than December 31, 2020.