Amendment ID: S2829-8-R2

2nd Redraft Amendment 8

Solar Panels in Historic Districts

Messrs. Cyr and Eldridge move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after section 36 the following 2 sections:-

“SECTION 36A. Section 5 of chapter 40C of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “districts”, in line 20, the following words:- ; the words “solar energy system” mean a device or structural design feature, a substantial purpose of which is to provide for the collection, storage and distribution of solar energy for space heating or cooling, electricity generation or water heating.

SECTION 36B. Section 7 of said chapter 40C, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the third sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- Notwithstanding any general or special law, ordinance, by-law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the commission shall give substantial weight to the threat posed by climate change and to the commonwealth’s obligation to meet statewide greenhouse gas emission limits and sublimits established under chapter 21N when ruling on applications for certificates of appropriateness for solar energy systems.”; and

by inserting after section 83 the following 4 sections:-

“SECTION 83A. Section 2A of chapter 395 of the acts of 1970, as most recently amended by section 1 of chapter 57 of the acts of 2000, is hereby further amended by inserting after the definition of “Razed” the following definition:-

“Solar energy system”, a device or structural design feature, a substantial purpose of which is to provide for the collection, storage and distribution of solar energy for space heating or cooling, electricity generation or water heating.

SECTION 83B. Subsection (b) of section 9 of said chapter 395, as amended by section 2 of said chapter 57, is hereby further amended by adding the following sentence:- The commission shall give substantial weight to the threat posed by climate change and to the commonwealth’s obligation to meet statewide greenhouse gas emission limits and sublimits established under chapter 21N of the General Laws when ruling on applications for certificates of appropriateness for solar energy systems

SECTION 83C. Section 3 of chapter 470 of the acts of 1973 is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Person” the following definition:-

“Solar energy system”, a device or structural design feature, a substantial purpose of which is to provide for the collection, storage and distribution of solar energy for space heating or cooling, electricity generation or water heating.

SECTION 83D. Subsection (a) of section 10 of said chapter 470 is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- The commission shall give substantial weight to the threat posed by climate change and to the commonwealth’s obligation to meet statewide greenhouse gas emission limits and sublimits established under chapter 21N of the General Laws when ruling on applications for certificates of appropriateness for solar energy systems.”.