By Mr. Eldridge of Acton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3298) of James B. Eldridge relative to the efficiency of certain hydroelectric facilities under the renewal energy portfolio for electricity suppliers.  Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

——————

PETITION OF:

James B. Eldridge

——————

In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

——————

An Act to support small hydroelectric facilities.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.  Section 11 F of Chapter 25A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking clause (vii) in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new clause:-  “(vii) incremental energy resulting from new or increased capacity or efficiency at hydroelectric facilities that are FERC jurisdictional after 1986, so long as such increased capacity or efficiency does not involve pumped storage of water and is achieved without involving any new impoundment or diversion of water and meets the requirements for classification as “low impact” hydropower as certified by the division in accordance with comparable environmental certification standards; provided that only the incremental energy output from improvements made after December 31, 1997 to a hydroelectric facility shall be considered a new renewable energy generating source”

SECTION 2.  Section 11F of Chapter 25A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition is hereby amended in line 33 by striking the words “clauses (vi) and (vii) herein.” and inserting in place thereof the following:-  “clause (vi).”