Amendment ID: S2477-73

Amendment 73

Municipal Solar

Messrs. Cyr, Tarr and Pacheco move that the proposed new draft be amended by adding in a new section:-

Section X. Municipalities at high risk from the effects of climate change may endorse one or more projects by an electric distribution company constructing, owning and operating generation facilities on land owned by the electric distribution company 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.  For purposes of this section, a municipality at high risk from the effects of climate shall be a community which expects significant changes to its population, land use or local economy resulting from changes in climate.  Notwithstanding sections 1B to 1H of chapter 164, inclusive, electric distribution companies shall be eligible to assist a municipality at high risk from the effects of climate change 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 on land owned by the electric distribution company 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.