{"AmendmentNumber":"85","ParentBillNumber":"S3143","Bill":null,"Sponsor":{"Id":"BET0","Name":"Bruce E. Tarr","Type":1,"Details":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/LegislativeMembers/BET0","ResponseDate":"2026-07-01T18:47:16.973"},"Category":null,"Action":"Adopted","RollCall":[],"Title":"Natural Gas Demand Forecasting and Supply Planning ","Branch":"Senate","RedraftNumber":1,"IsFurther":false,"GeneralCourtNumber":194,"Text":"Mr. Tarr, Mrs. Dooner and Mr. Fattman move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 56 the following section:-\r\n\"SECTION 56A. Said chapter 164 of hereby further amended by inserting after section 69I the following section:-\r\nSection 69I½. (a) The department, in consultation with the department of energy resources, based on long-range plans approved pursuant to section 69I, shall establish and maintain rolling 3-year projections of statewide natural gas demand. The projections shall include, but not be limited to: (i) requirements for electric generation; (ii) anticipated residential, commercial and industrial consumption; (iii) winter and summer peak requirements; (iv) firm and interruptible load; and (v) any expected changes resulting from electrification, energy efficiency or economic trends.\r\n(b) The secretary of energy and environmental affairs, in consultation with the department, shall develop and annually update a plan that: (i) matches natural gas supply with projected demand; (ii) ensures pipeline capacity and system reliability measures in a manner that does not result in excessive consumer cost burdens; (iii) minimizes potential service interruptions; and (iv) is consistent with the commonwealth’s decarbonization goals. In developing said plan, the secretary shall conduct not less than 3 public hearings in geographically diverse locations in the commonwealth, provided, however, that at least 1 such hearing shall accommodate remote participation.\r\n(c) The projections and plan required by subsections (a) and (b) shall be filed annually with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy.”\r\n"}