{"AmendmentNumber":"149","ParentBillNumber":"H5562","Bill":null,"Sponsor":{"Id":"MJC1","Name":"Mark J. Cusack","Type":1,"Details":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/LegislativeMembers/MJC1","ResponseDate":"2026-07-06T13:35:26.977"},"Category":null,"Action":"Consolidated","RollCall":[],"Title":"Ratepayer Protection Funding","Branch":"House","RedraftNumber":null,"IsFurther":false,"GeneralCourtNumber":194,"Text":"Mr. Cusack of Braintree moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:-\r\nSECTION XX. Chapter 23J of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-\r\nSection 16. (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the Massachusetts clean energy technology center a separate, non-budgeted special revenue fund to be known as the Offshore Wind Pre-Development and Project Acceleration Fund. The fund shall be administered by the center, without further appropriation, exclusively to fund the state-led offshore wind pre-development and project acceleration program established pursuant to section 24 of chapter 25A.\r\n(b) In order to accelerate project timelines, streamline the readiness of offshore wind generation projects, and reduce project risks, the fund shall be credited with an initial capitalization of not less than $10,000,000.\r\n(c) To satisfy the funding requirement established in subsection (b), the comptroller shall transfer not less than $10,000,000 to the fund from one or a combination of the following sources: (1) Alternative compliance payments collected pursuant to sections 11F, 11F 1/2, and 17 of chapter 25A, and any portfolio standard adopted by the department of environmental protection pursuant to chapter 21N, currently held by the center; or (2) Funds made available pursuant to section 2EEEEEE of chapter 29.\r\n(d) Amounts credited to the fund shall be expended by the center, in coordination with the department of energy resources, for eligible pre-development activities including, but not limited to: permitting and site assessment studies, fisheries and environmental science studies, pre-front end engineering design, transmission planning, and support for the timely utilization of regional supply chain and port infrastructure.\r\n(e) Eligibility for monies from this fund shall be limited to offshore wind projects that can demonstrate an ability to access federal tax credits for the benefit of commonwealth ratepayers.\r\n(f) Any financial arrangement executed using monies from this fund shall include a mechanism to ensure recovery of any co-investment capital provided by the commonwealth upon the project reaching commercial operation. Revenues deposited in the fund that are unexpended at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure in the following fiscal year.\r\n"}