By Mr. Jones of North Reading, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3316) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to the renewable energy portfolio standard concerning improvements at hydroelectric generation facilities.  Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

——————

PETITION OF:

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

Mary S. Rogeness

George N. Peterson, Jr.

John A. Lepper

Viriato Manuel deMacedo

Paul K. Frost

Elizabeth A. Poirier

Robert S. Hargraves

Karyn E. Polito

Susan Williams Gifford

Richard J. Ross

Paul J. P. Loscocco

Donald F. Humason, Jr.

——————

In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

——————

An Act relative to the renewable energy portfolio standard.

    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 3 of chapter 25A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the term “Energy management services” the following definition:-

“Incremental new hydroelectric generation”, the percentage increase in average annual electricity production attributable to efficiency improvements or additions to capacity placed in service at a hydroelectric facility after December 31, 2000, as certified by the division relative to the historical generation for each eligible hydroelectric facility; provided, however, that historical generation for each eligible hydroelectric facility shall be calculated by the division based on the average electricity generated annually at the facility during the 10 years prior to the capacity addition or efficiency improvements, or the life of the facility, whichever is shorter.  In no event shall an energy generation which would have existed in the absence of efficiency improvements or additions to capacity be considered incremental new hydroelectric generation for the purpose of this chapter.

SECTION 2.  Section 11F of said chapter 25A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 15 through 17, inclusive, the words “and (iii) an additional 1 per cent of sales every year thereof until a date determined by the division of energy resources” and inserting in place thereof the following: -

 “(iii) an additional 1 percent of sales every year thereof until December 31, 2011; (iv) an additional 2 percent of sales every year thereof until December 31, 2016; and (v) an additional 3 percent of sales every year thereof until December 31, 2019.  Beginning January 1, 2008 the division of energy resources shall submit to the clerk of the senate and the house of representatives an annual report regarding the status of the renewable energy portfolio standard outlining the division’s legislative recommendations needed to advance the production of renewable energy generating sources in the Commonwealth.  The division of energy resources shall increase the scheduled minimum percentage of kilowatt-hours sales to end-use customers, outlined in clauses (i) through (v), inclusive, if it is determined by the division that such percentages are easily obtained and may be increased without an increased cost to the end-use customers of the Commonwealth.”

SECTION 3. Section 11F of said chapter 25A, as so appearing, is hereby amended, in lines 33, by inserting after the words “clauses (vi) and (vii) herein”, the following: -

“, but shall include incremental new hydroelectric generation which does not involve pumped storage of water or any new impoundment or diversion of water, and where such facility meets the requirements for classification as low impact hydropower as certified by the Low Impact Hydropower Institute or as certified by the division in accordance with comparable environmental certification standards.”