Amendment #400 to H4000

Offshore wind energy contracts

Mr. Roy of Franklin moves to amend the bill by inserting after section XX the following section:-

SECTION XX. Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2021 is hereby amended by striking out section 91 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

SECTION 91. Chapter 69 of the acts of 2008, as appearing in section 12 of chapter 188 of the acts of 2016, is herby amended by striking out subsection (a) and subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following subsections:-

(a) In order to facilitate the financing of offshore wind energy generation resources in the commonwealth every distribution company shall jointly and competitively solicit proposals for offshore wind energy generation; and, provided, that reasonable proposals have been received, shall enter into cost-effective long-term contracts. Long-term contracts executed pursuant to this section shall be subject to the approval of the department of public utilities and shall be apportioned among the distribution companies.

(b)  The timetable and method for solicitations of long-term contracts shall be proposed jointly by the distribution companies and the department of energy resources using a competitive bidding process, and shall be subject to review and approval by the department of public utilities. The distribution companies, in coordination with the department of energy resources, shall consult with the attorney general regarding the choice of solicitation methods. A solicitation may be coordinated and issued jointly with other New England states or entities designated by those states. The distribution companies may conduct 1 or more competitive solicitations through a staggered procurement schedule developed by the distribution companies and the department of energy resources; provided, that the schedule shall ensure that the distribution companies enter into cost-effective long-term contracts for offshore wind energy generation equal to approximately 5,600 megawatts of aggregate nameplate capacity not later than June 30, 2027, including capacity authorized pursuant to section 21 of chapter 227 of the acts of 2018; and provided further, that individual solicitations shall seek proposals for no less than 400 megawatts of aggregate nameplate capacity of offshore wind energy generation resources.  A staggered procurement schedule developed by the department of energy resources, if applicable, shall specify that a subsequent solicitation shall occur within 24 months of a previous solicitation; provided, however, that the department of public utilities shall not approve a long-term contract that results from a subsequent solicitation and procurement period if the levelized price per megawatt hour, plus associated transmission costs, is greater than or equal to the levelized price per megawatt hour plus transmission costs that resulted from the previous procurement.  Proposals received pursuant to a solicitation under this section shall be subject to review by the department of energy resources.  If the department of energy resources, in consultation with the distribution companies and the independent evaluator, determines that reasonable proposals were not received pursuant to a solicitation, the department may terminate the solicitation, and may require additional solicitations to fulfill the requirements of this section.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #400 to H4000

Offshore wind energy contracts