State Clean Energy Policies

The following links, files and information are intended to characterize the energy and other polcies of the following states that may affect renewable and other clean energy.  (No representation is made with respect to the accuracy or completeness of this information, so parties should rely instead on their own research.)

Massachusetts

• December 2006 -- Materials related to transition to new administration (the Patrick/Murray Transition):
  • Energy and Environment Working Group:
    • Report of the Working Group (27 pp.)
    • Themes from the Outreach Process (14 pp.)
  • Other Outreach Reports: www.patrickmurraytransition.org/reports.cfm
  • Recommendations from Northeast Combined Heat and Power Initiative (NECHPI)
• August 2006 -- Governor Romney Unveils Long Term Energy Plan -- see slide presentation Massachusetts’ Energy Future: A Balanced Approach (pdf) and Press Release (pdf) and a State House News Service article (pdf) -- see DG-related provisions:
  • "increase and diversify supply through renewable energy"
  • "encourage on-site generation: reduce stand-by rates to drive private investment"
  • petition DTE to initiate dockets on on-site generation, time-of-day rates, a 'negawatts' market and market-based electricity pricing

• Massachusetts Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS)
  • DOER's RPS web page
  • MTC's Massachusetts Green Power Partnership (MGPP)
  • August 10, 2006 -- veto of certain provisions of a bill affecting RPS treatment of biomass projects

  • July 18, 2006 -- Final comments on DOER proposed revisions

  • July 6, 2006 -- Initial comments on DOER proposed revisions

  • June 24, 2006 -- veto of certain provisions of H5057 changing RPS eligibility of hydropower
  • June 2, 2006 -- DOER proposed revisions in RPS Regulations and proposed Guideline on the RPS Eligibility of Biomass Generation Units
  • January 9, 2006 -- DOER "Annual RPS Compliance Report for 2004", the second year in which retail electricity suppliers in Massachusetts were required to comply with the MA RPS standards (link to the report).
  • October 27, 2005 -- DOER "Policy Statement on the RPS Eligibility of Retooled Biomass Plants," which is the follow-up to the Inquiry on the definition of "low-emission, advanced biomass power conversion technologies." The Policy Statement can be downloaded at this link.
• Proposed Greenhouse Gas Emission Implementation Amendments, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): 310 CMR 7.29 & 310 CMR 7.00 Appendix B (the "Filthy Five" regs)
  • August 21, 2006 additional public hearing notice
    Web page
    Related: Draft Greenhouse Gas Expendable Trust
    MS Word 56 KB | PDF 32 KB
  • December 2005 -- Background and technical support document, including public hearing draft of regulations (supersedes discussion draft)
    MS Word 204 KB | PDF 156 KB
    Presentation summarizing proposal
    MS Powerpoint 92 KB | PDF 68 KB
• Distributed Generation Collaborative
  • August 11, 2006 -- DTE "invites all interested persons to file written comments on the 2006 DG Report and the revised Model Interconnection Tariff no later than September 7, 2006. See NOTICE OF FILING AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS (pdf).

• Electric Restructuring in Massachusetts (DTE website)
• Procurement of Basic Service (DTE 04-115)
  • July 22, 2005 -- Comments of AG's Office
  • July 22, 2005 -- Comments of environmental organizations
  • Other comments available at the DTE Enhanced Fileroom -- enter docket number "04-115"
  • December 6, 2004 -- DTE Request For Comments On The Procurement Of Default Service Power Supply for Residential and Small C/I Customer
  • G.L. Chapter 164: Section 94A. Contracts for purchase of gas or electricity; review of price paid
• Renewable Energy Tax Incentives
  • State Income Tax Credit (M.G.L. C. 62, sec. 6(d))
  • State Sales Tax Exemption (M.G.L. c. 64H, sec. 6(dd))
  • Local Property Tax Exemption (M.G.L. ch. 59, sec. 5, cl. 45)
  • Corporate Income Tax Deduction (M.G.L. c.63, sec. 38H and M.G.L. c.63, sec. 38H(f))
  • Hydropower-Property Tax Exemption (M.G.L. ch.59, sec. 5, cl. (45A))
• Procurement of energy services for public buildings:
  • Legislation -- Chapter 25A: Section 11C, contracts for procurement of energy management services
  • Regulations (DOER) -- 225 CMR 10.00: ENERGY MANAGEMENT SERVICES (EMS) CONTRACTS
  • Background -- "Providing Energy Savings through Energy Performance Contracting"
• Laws relating to distribution of electricity
  • CHAPTER 164. MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF GAS AND ELECTRICITY
  • Chapter 164: Section 87: Consent of municipality to entry of another electric company
  • Chapter 164: Section 90: Conditions imposed upon entry of supplier of electricity in bulk
  • Chapter 164: Section 94A. Contracts for purchase of gas or electricity; review of price paid
  • Chapter 164: Section 136. Cooperatives
  • Chapter 249 of the Acts of 2004, AN ACT RELATIVE TO ELECTRIC TRANSMISSIONS
• Other Laws:
  • Chapter 5 of the Acts of 2005, AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BROCKTON TO INSTALL, FINANCE AND OPERATE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES, approved February 17, 2005
  • Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2005, AN ACT RELATIVE TO HEATING ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND TAX RELIEF
  • Chapter 139 of the Acts of 2005, AN ACT ESTABLISHING MINIMUM ENERGY-EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN PRODUCTS
  • Chapter 141 of the Acts of 2003, AN ACT RELATIVE TO INVESTMENTS IN EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO PROMOTE JOB CREATION, ECONOMIC STABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS IN THE MASSACHUSETTS ECONOMY
    

Connecticut

• AN ACT CONCERNING ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, HB 7501
• Text of Bill, June 2005 Special Session, General Assembly
• OLR Bill Analysis
• Presentations:
• April 10, 2007 -- Incentives for Customer-Side Distributed Resources
• March 13, 2006 -- Presentation by Commissioner Downs to NECA on LICAP Settlement and other matters
• October 2005 -- Presentation by Commissioner George to Restructuring Roundtable (see slides on decoupling and other rate issues for DG)
• CT Websites:
  • Department of Public Utility Control (Docket 05-07-14)
  • Connecticut Energy Advisory Board (CEAB)
  • CT Clean Energy Fund
  • Institite for Sustainable Energy at ECS
  • Connecticut's Official Climate Change Web Site

• Docket 05-07-14 Phase 1 (Short Term Measures): DPUC Investigation of Measures to Reduce Federally Mandated Congestion Charges (FMCC)
  • December 28, 2005 DPUC Order (word)
  • November 4, 2005 -- Connecticut Energy Advisory Board (CEAB) Report to DPUC
  • 05-07-14PH01 files on DPUC website

• Docket 05-07-14 Phase 2 (Long Term Measures): DPUC Investigation of Measures to Reduce Federally Mandated Congestion Charges

• 05-07-14PH02 files on DPUC website
• April 7, 2006 -- Connecticut’s Long-Term Electric Capacity Requirements, REPORT OF THE CONNECTICUT ENERGY ADVISORY BOARD
  

• Docket 05-07-16 DPUC Review of the Development of a Program to Provide Various Incentives for Customer-Side Distributed Resources
  • March 27, 2006 Order, including inclentives to utilities, rebates on gas delivery charges, provision changing standby charges (word)
  • 05-07-16 Files on DPUC Website

• Docket 05-07-17 DPUC Review of the Development of a Program to Provide Monetary Grants for Capital Costs of Customer Side Distributed Resources
  • March 27, 2006 Order, including award levels of $200/kW for emergency generators or $450/kW for baseload generators, plus $50/kW in the congested SWCT area (word)
  • 05-07-17 Files on DPUC Website

• CT Distributed Resource Portfolio Standard (CT DPUC Docket 05-07-17):
• -- December 31, 2005 -- DPUC Strawman Proposal
• -- January 2006 -- Comments by CL&P
• -- January 2006 -- Comments by Environment Northeast
• -- (other comments available at DPUC web page for Docket 05-07-17)
• CEAB documents about Preferential Criteria:
• December 13, 2005 -- Connecticut Energy Advisory Board (CEAB) RFP to seek alternatives to a substation proposed by CL&P
• December 2004 -- CEAB Preferential Criteria

• Connecticut Climate Change Action Plan (2005)
• CT DEP NOx Credit program
  • NOx credits may be available for (1) purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates featuring Connecticut Class I RPS-eligible resources from facilities in New England and Mid-Atlantic states; (2) installing onsite renewable generation in Connecticut or (3) performing energy efficiency measures in Connecticut facilities that meet the DEP’s Energy Efficiency Protocol.
  • One NOx credit (one ton) would require purchase or generation of approximately 1,333 Megawatt-hours of clean energy.
  • NOx credits have an approximate market value of $2,200/ton (subject to market fluctuation)

 

Rhode Island

• February 2, 2007 -- Report of the Rhode Island Office Of Energy Resources to the Rhode Island General Assembly on the DG Stakeholders Working Group, pursuant to the Comprehensive Energy Conservation, Efficiency and Affordability Act of 2006 (3.5 MB pdf)
• Rhode Island Energy Act of 2006 S 2903 Substitute B:
  • Promotes Distributed Generation, with attention to renewable generation and systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, by starting with an assessment of the barriers to DG – a stakeholder study and report by new energy office on needed legislative and PUC ratemaking changes.
  • New “Least Cost Procurement” (LCP) mandate – requires a least cost plan for utilities to procure all cost-effective energy efficiency, distributed generation, renewables, combined heat and power and demand response that will require utilities to purchase set amounts of efficiency, renewables and demand side options, not just traditional power contracts from generating stations
  • New Office of Energy Resources with extensive planning and reporting requirements, and new Joint Committee on Energy to oversee the least cost procurement process, ensure results, and continually improve state energy planning to lower cost for RI ratepayers.
  • Summary of RI “Comprehensive Energy Conservation, Efficiency and Affordability Act of 2006,” prepared by The POWER Coalition (pdf file)
• Renewable Energy Standard (RES)
  • RI PUC Rules (Effective Date January 1, 2006)
  • December 28, 2005 -- PUC REPORT ON FINAL RULES (see discussion of long-term contracts on pp. 9-10)

Vermont

• Act 61 (S.52, ‘Renewable Energy, Efficiency, Transmission, and Vermont's Energy Future’)
  • The Act
  • PSB website on Implementation of Act 61
  • Least-Cost Integrated Planning for Transmission (Docket 7081)
• Act 74 -- Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund
• Renewable Procurement Performance Standard
  • The Act
  • PSB to impose RPS in 2013, but only if utilities fail to meet incremental loads with new renewable energy from in or out-of-state resources
• SPEED (‘Sustainably Priced Energy Enterprise Development’)
  • utility long-term power contracts (below-market rates),
  • use of an agent to buy and sell the power
• Combined Heat & Power Program
  • CHP with at least 65% efficiency
  • DPS Draft Proposal June 19, 2006 (word file)
• Efficiency Vermont

Other States

• Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE):
  • www.dsireusa.org/index.cfm?EE=0&RE=1
• EPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership: State Resources
• See also climate policy information at:
  • Climate Change Action Plans & Links
• Decoupling Resources (web page of the NJ Center for Energy, Economic & Environmental Policy, CEEEP)
• February 2005 -- OR: DG in Oregon: Overview, Regulatory Barriers and Recommendations, Lisa Schwartz, Public Utility
  Commission Staff

Federal Policies

• EPA's Clean Energy-Environment Guide to Action: Policies, Best Practices, and Action Steps for States (web)
• October 2005 -- Growing Renewable Energy: Recommendations from New England, Report of the New England Roundtable on Federal  Renewable Energy Policy
• July 2005 -- Energy Policy Act of 2005
  • Conference Report (1.6 MB pdf)
• FERC implementation activities (web)

Regional Policies

• Treatment of Distributed Resources Under ISO-New England Market Rules -- Detailed information on this topic is available at the ISO Market Rules page.
• See also regional climate planning information at:
  • Climate Change Action Plans & Links

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Other Source Materials for Reference

• DG Benefits and Costs

• Economics of Renewable DG

• Environmental Benefits and Impacts of DG

• Methodologies for Addressing DG in Distribution Planning

(Click here to return to the Distribution Planning Working Group Page.)

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Related Projects

Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) is a leader or sponsor of the following two projects which are closely related to the work of the Distribution Planning Working Group:

• MTC Congestion Relief Pilot Projects

 

• July 11, 2005 -- EPRI DER Public/Private Partnership: Creating and Demonstrating Incentives for Electricity Providers to Integrate Distributed Energy Resources (DER), a proposal submitted by Massachusetts DOER to the State Technologies Advancement Collaborative (STAC) -- contact Ellen Petrill (650-855-8939) to discuss ways to participate in the EPRI DER Partnership.

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Working Groups of the Massachusetts DG Collaborative:

• Distribution Planning Working Group
• Tariff Working Group
• Technical/Network Working Group

This page is under construction -- suggestions for additional resources, or other questions or comments about the Massachusetts DG Collaborative, may be directed to:

          Fran Cummings, RET Policy Director