Clean Energy Siting Bill Passes on November 14

Clean Energy Siting Bill Vote Held on November 14

An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity and protecting ratepayers

Sweeping Climate Bill Passes the Massachusetts Legislature

On November 14, the Massachusetts House voted 125-17 to approve the 139-page House-Senate compromise bill (S 2967), and both chambers took final procedural votes to send it to Governor Maura Healy for her signature, amendment or veto. Healey has been urging lawmakers to complete work on the bill.

The bill passed both the House and Senate in rare formal sessions on November 14.

The Senate initially approved the bill in October, when Democrats struck a deal with Republicans to allow them to cast recorded votes for and against it, even during the stretch of informal sessions when roll call votes are usually not allowed.

The bill would reform the state's siting and permitting laws for clean energy resources, and also push the state toward a stronger embrace of electric vehicles, make more families eligible for discounted utility rates, and eyes fusion as a possible renewable energy source. One high-profile provision would allow the Department of Energy Resources to coordinate with one or more New England state to solicit long-term clean energy generation, including from nuclear power.

The compromise clean energy bill was filed by a legislative conference committee on October 21, 2024.

ACEC/MA has been advocating for this bill

Copy of bill from conference committee

Joint Rule 11A report, which outlines the outcome of the provisions that were negotiated. 

Background from Rasky Partners

Climate and Clean Energy:  
An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity and protecting ratepayers
This legislation is a comprehensive update to Massachusetts' energy policies, focused on creating a cleaner energy grid, promoting equity and environmental justice, and streamlining energy infrastructure permitting processes. Key provisions include a consolidated permitting system managed by the Energy Facilities Siting Board and a new Division of Clean Energy Siting and Permitting within the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to assist municipalities in the siting of small clean energy infrastructure facilities.

In addition to permitting and siting reforms, the bill outlines a framework for long-term contracts for energy storage systems, aiming to procure 5,000 megawatts of energy storage by 2030, with specific targets for mid-duration, long-duration, and multi-day storage systems.
The bill also requires utility companies to offer discounted rates for moderate-income customers, alongside the existing discounts for low-income customers and outlines measures to promote the installation of electric vehicle chargers throughout the state. 

Background from State House News Service, 10/18/24

Lawmakers Announce Deal on Stalled Clean Energy Bill

Barrett: Measure Will Include Language on Heat Pumps, EV Charger Network, Nuclear Energy

Chris Lisinski, Colin A. Young 5 hrs ago

Sam Doran/SHNS

[Coverage Developing] House and Senate Democrats on Thursday morning announced a breakthrough on "comprehensive climate and clean energy siting and permitting legislation," penciling in an upcoming vote on a major bill that stumbled at the traditional end of formal business in July.

Rep. Jeff Roy of Franklin and Sen. Michael Barrett of Lexington, the lead negotiators tasked with achieving compromise on wide-reaching clean energy bills each branch approved this year, said just after 9 a.m. that they are finalizing details and plan to submit a final proposal "in the coming days."

"We are proud to announce that we have reached an agreement in principle that resolves the differences between the House and Senate versions of the comprehensive climate and clean energy siting and permitting legislation," the duo said. "Massachusetts must continue to be a national leader in the effort to combat climate change, a prerequisite for which will be transitioning to a clean energy economy and creating high-quality jobs in the process."

Barrett said the agreement is expected to include "lots of important breakthroughs in terms of outfitting the state with an EV charger network, some very important housekeeping details around heat pumps," and changes to the MassPort charter that will require the agency to consider reductions in greenhouse gas emissions along with regional economic growth.

"Everything that ends well has to be considered worthwhile and this process was labyrinthine but to a very good end," Barrett told the News Service. "I think the House gets a lot of what it wants. I know the Senate is very satisfied. We do protect ratepayers on the gas side even as we build out the electric grid."

The agreement will also include language related to the procurement of energy storage and an option for purchasing nuclear power from Millstone Nuclear Power Plant in Connecticut or Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant in New Hampshire, the senator said. That could be key to a deal Gov. Maura Healey has reportedly been discussing with Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont to get his state to buy into an offshore wind project with Massachusetts.

Both branches approved bills overhauling and streamlining the process for siting and permitting clean energy infrastructure, an area where many regulators and industry leaders see a need for reform. Barrett said the conference agreement uses siting and permitting language from the Healey administration as a "base case," but lawmakers made a "few improvements."

But the House and Senate each added their own climate and clean energy priorities to the mix, too, and Democrats were unable to forge a compromise during a chaotic stretch.

Some Republicans voted against the bills in both chambers, complicating -- but not prohibiting -- the route to final passage following the July 31 traditional end of formal sessions. Democrats might opt to pare back the package to a version that could win unanimous support during an informal session, or they might call members back to Beacon Hill to form the quorum needed to muscle it through over Republican opposition.

Barrett said he hopes the Senate then the House can pass the conference agreement onto the governor's desk "relatively soon."

"But we will definitely get there," he said, dismissing possible minority party-related delays as temporary.

After the branches failed to reach agreement at the end of formal sessions, Healey attached scaled-back siting and permitting reform language to her closeout budget bill in an attempt to renew action on that front.

"Governor Healey is excited that the Legislature has reached an agreement on this critical climate bill that will strengthen Massachusetts' global leadership in creating clean energy jobs and reducing costs," a spokesperson for Healey said. "She looks forward to receiving it."

Like many others, Caitlin Peale Sloan, vice president of Conservation Law Foundation Massachusetts, said she looked forward to seeing what is included in the bill.

“For Massachusetts to truly be a leader on climate change, equitable siting reform and curbing the expansion and overspending in our gas system must be priorities for lawmakers,” Peale Sloan said in a statement.

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