By Mr. Turkington of Falmouth, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3384) of Eric Turkington for legislation to authorize cities and towns to designate certain coastal waters as renewal energy pilot testing and development sites.  Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

——————

PETITION OF:

Eric Turkington

——————

In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

——————

An Act relative to coastal cities and towns

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

Chapter 21F of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 8.  Any coastal city of town acting through its mayor with the approval of the town council in a town having town council form of government and the board of selectmen with the approval of town meeting in any other town may submit to the governor a proposed area of coastal waters to be designated as a renewal energy pilot testing and development site.  Said submission shall be reviewed by the coastal zone management office and the energy facilities siting board.  Upon approval the coastal zone management office shall designate the boundaries of the site and appropriate uses thereof.  The coastal city or town may then enter into a use agreement with 1 or more renewable energy developers that would describe the conditions, mitigation measures and direction of any piloting testing and development activities in the area.  The coastal zone management office and the energy facilities siting board shall provide technical assistance and comments to the coastal city of town.