Advisory Rulings

Advisory Rulings on the Likely RPS-Eligibility of Generation Units

The RPS Regulations at 225 CMR 14.06 (5) provide that the owner or operator of a generation unit may request an advisory ruling from DOER to determine whether the unit would qualify as a New Renewable Generation Unit.

The primary purpose of the Advisory Ruling provision is to afford the owner, operator, or developer of an existing, new, or proposed generation unit a means of assessing the likelihood and conditions under which the unit would qualify as a New Renewable Generation Unit under the RPS regulations prior to committing significant investment in time and/or expense for project development. This is especially useful in the case of a biomass unit, for which the RPS regulations include fuel, technology, and air emission criteria that DOER must interpret in its evaluation of each such unit.

Note that the actual, formal RPS qualification of a generation unit would be in the form of a Statement of Qualification from DOER. The unit's owner or developer would supply considerably more and certain detail in submitting an application for a Statement of Qualification. Also note that, for certain types of generation units, as listed in the RPS regulations at 225 CMR 14.06 (2) (b), DOER is required to provide an opportunity for public comment on an application for a Statement of Qualification. DOER may choose to provide such opportunity under other circumstances as well.

Below is a list of the Generation Units for which an Advisory Ruling has been completed. To access a copy of each ruling, click on its identification.