Amendment #17, as changed to H4515

To allow for federal funding in transmission procurement

Ms. Robinson of Framingham moves to amend the bill by striking out section 23 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

SECTION 23. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of energy resources shall, not later than March 1, 2023, competitively solicit and procure proposals for offshore wind energy transmission sufficient to deliver energy generation procured pursuant to subsection (b) of section 83C of chapter 169 of the acts of 2008 from designated wind energy areas for which a federal lease was issued on or after January 1, 2012, that shall be developed independent of such offshore wind energy generation; provided, that offshore wind developers, as defined in section 83B of said chapter 169 shall be permitted to submit proposals pursuant to this section; provided further, that such transmission service shall be made available for use by more than 1 wind energy generation project; and provided further, that the department shall coordinate with the department of public utilities, electric distribution companies, other New England states or entities designated by those states and ISO New England, Inc. or a successor organization, in the solicitation and procurement of proposals for offshore wind energy transmission. The department shall be permitted to select 1 proposal, multiple proposals, or no proposals; provided, however, that the department may satisfy the requirement regarding proposal selection through federal funding in the form of a match, a grant, a loan, or through ownership and operation by the United States government that provides a comparable level of investment as would have otherwise been provided if the department had selected a single proposal or multiple proposals.

(b) In conducting the procurement for offshore wind energy transmission, the department of energy resources shall take into consideration the total amount of transmission needed to achieve the commonwealth’s offshore wind and decarbonization goals as well as demonstrable benefits to the consumer and environment and in terms of electric system reliability and avoided upgrade costs to the existing transmission grid. The department shall consider proposals that include, but shall not be limited to, upgrading the existing grid, extending the grid closer to offshore wind locations, determining optimal landfall approaches or interconnecting between offshore substations. If federal grants or other federal funding for transmission and distribution become available, the department may modify a procurement, prior to selecting a proposal, in order to satisfy federal eligibility criteria.

(c) Not later than September 31, 2023, the department of energy resources shall submit a report to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the chairs of the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy, that: (1) outlines the design and conduct of the solicitation and procurement process; (2) identifies and recommends any improvements to the solicitation and procurement process; and (3) provides, in the event that the department does not choose a proposal, a comprehensive explanation of their decision, including the extent to which the department’s consideration of factors in subsection (b) played a role in said decision.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #17, as changed to H4515

To allow for federal funding in transmission procurement