Amendment ID: S2819-34

Amendment 34

Maximizing emission reductions in Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program

Mr. Lewis, Ms. DiZoglio, Mr. Eldridge and Ms. Comerford move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following sections:--

"SECTION XX. Section 1 of chapter 23M is amended by striking out the words “or (2) the construction of an extension of an existing natural gas distribution company line to qualifying commercial or industrial property to enable the qualifying commercial or industrial property to obtain natural gas distribution service to displace utilization of fuel oil, electricity or other conventional energy sources” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-

or (2) participation in a district heating and cooling system by qualifying commercial or industrial real property, provided such district energy system incorporates renewable energy, or (3) participation in a microgrid, including any related infrastructure for such microgrid, by qualifying commercial or industrial real property, provided such microgrid incorporates renewable energy, or (4) participation in an energy storage system by qualifying commercial or industrial property when paired with renewable energy generation"

SECTION XX. Said Section 1 of chapter 23M is further amended by inserting the following definitions:-

“District heating and cooling system”, a local system consisting of a central generation source and network of pipes that use hot water, chilled water, or steam to provide space heating, cooling and/or hot water to multiple buildings.

“Energy storage system”, a commercially available technology that is capable of absorbing energy, storing it for a period of time and thereafter dispatching the energy; provided, however, that an energy storage system shall (1) use mechanical, chemical or thermal processes to store energy that was generated for use at a later time; (2) store thermal energy for direct heating or cooling use at a later time in a manner that avoids the need to use electricity at that later time; (3) use mechanical, chemical or thermal processes to store energy generated from renewable resources for use at a later time; or (4) use mechanical, chemical or thermal processes to capture or harness waste electricity and to store the waste electricity generated from mechanical processes for delivery at a later time.

“Microgrid”, a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy sources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid and that connects and disconnects from such grid to enable it to operate in both grid connected and island mode."

SECTION XX. Said Section 1 of chapter 23M is hereby further amended by deleting the definition of “Commercial energy improvements” in its entirety and inserting the following definition in place thereof:

''Commercial energy improvements'', any new construction, renovation, or retrofitting of a qualifying commercial or industrial real property to reduce energy consumption, or installation of renewable energy systems to serve qualifying commercial or industrial property, provided such new construction, renovation, retrofit, or installation is permanently fixed to such qualifying commercial or industrial property."