Milford Lawmaker Announces Passing of Energy Legislation Focused on Offshore Wind and Hydropower

From the Massachusetts Legislature:

BOSTON – Representative John V. Fernandes (D-Milford) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass energy legislation that seeks to protect the Commonwealth’s ratepayers and support clean energy. The bill seeks to jumpstart the development of reliable clean energy projects in Massachusetts by directing distribution companies to enter into long-term contracts for 1,200 MW of offshore wind power and conduct solicitations for up to 9,450,000 MWhs of energy from either hydropower, or hydropower and Class I renewable resources.

“The passing of this legislation ensures that Massachusetts consumers will continue to receive the economic benefits of affordable power while also working towards a more sustainable, cleaner energy future,” said Representative Fernandes, Chair of the Judiciary Committee.  “There is great economic potential in growing this industry here in the Massachusetts, and this policy will help to attract more investment in the industry and ultimately provide more jobs for workers throughout the Commonwealth.”

“I’m proud that the House has taken a bold and forward-thinking step in addressing the complex and critical energy challenges facing Massachusetts,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “Through this bill, the House tackles these challenges head on, adopting a viable, real-world strategy that will stabilize costs, protect ratepayers and promote clean energy.”

“With the passage of this legislation, the House has taken the first step to establish the foundation for a clean energy future,” said Thomas A. Golden, Jr., Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy (D-Lowell). “This bill calls for an aggressive procurement of large-scale renewables while remaining cognizant of cost to the ratepayer.”

By creating a framework that includes both offshore wind and hydropower this legislation promotes a diverse energy portfolio that will replace some of the power the Commonwealth is losing from older, dirtier sources scheduled to shut down. With a similarly forward-looking perspective, the focus on offshore wind will cultivate a new industry and create jobs here in Massachusetts.

The legislation includes a series of ratepayer protections including a requirement that the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and the Attorney General jointly-select an independent evaluator to assist the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to determine whether the procurement process is open, fair, and transparent.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

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