Amendment #8 to H5151

An Act to increase the supply of clean natural gas

Mr. Lombardo of Billerica moves to amend the bill SECTION X. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Public Utilities and the Energy Facilities Siting Board, shall conduct a competitive solicitation for proposals to increase firm interstate natural gas transmission capacity into the commonwealth for the purpose of enhancing winter energy reliability and mitigating price volatility affecting ratepayers.

(a) The solicitation shall:

1. Be open to any qualified interstate pipeline developer;

2. Evaluate proposals based on demonstrated reliability benefits, long-term price stabilization impacts, consistency with state and federal law, and total lifecycle cost to ratepayers;

3. Consider expansions of existing infrastructure or development of new transmission capacity;

4. Include consideration of previously proposed but unconstructed interstate transmission projects.

(b) The secretary shall assess:

1. The projected impact of additional firm capacity on wholesale electricity and natural gas prices;

2. Legal requirements under the federal Natural Gas Act and applicable federal certification processes;

3. Financing structures, including public-private partnerships or voluntary capacity subscription mechanisms;

(c) If the solicitation demonstrates that additional interstate natural gas transmission capacity would materially reduce winter reliability risks or price volatility affecting ratepayers, the secretary shall recommend specific legislative and regulatory actions necessary to facilitate the timely development of such capacity.

(d) The secretary shall file a report with the clerks of the House of Representatives and Senate not later than 6 months after the effective date of this act detailing findings and any recommended legislative actions.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #8 to H5151

An Act to increase the supply of clean natural gas