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Day after
day, we hear about the skyrocketing prices of gas and home heating oil
and more news about the changes in our climate. We cannot continue on
this course if we expect to revitalize our economy and preserve our
future. That is why the Senate voted early last month for
sweeping changes in the use and implementation of energy resources as
the Senate passed its version of energy reform legislation.
An Act
to Generate Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now - the GREEN Act -
promotes renewable energy resources and energy efficiency. The bill
helps ease energy costs in cities and towns by allowing municipalities
to construct, own and operate small renewable energy generation
sources.
The
bill promotes renewable energies by including initiatives such as
updating the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard to reach the goal of
20 percent renewable power resources by 2020. It also requires
distribution companies to enter into long-term contracts for renewable
energy to help renewable energy suppliers secure their place in the
supply network.
The
GREEN Act establishes new energy efficiency standards by requiring
distribution companies to obtain energy supplies using the method that
costs the least. Known as "least-cost procurement," this
change makes energy efficiency, which is two-thirds cheaper than
building new power, compete favorably with new power generation. It
will also help limit and reduce energy consumption.
For consumers, this reform seeks to level the playing field between
utilities and ratepayers by strengthening the Attorney General's power
to act on behalf of ratepayers.
The
legislation also mandates improved quality of service from power
companies operating in the Commonwealth, and increased customer
awareness of competitive energy suppliers in their area. Additionally,
it focuses on promoting the utilization of energy efficiency, renewable
energy and other strategies for communities by establishing a
"Green Communities" program.
While
the Senate and House energy bills agree on most aspects of energy
reform legislation, there are differences between the two bills:
·
The Senate bill acknowledges fiscal restrictions in the
Commonwealth's ability to afford tax breaks for hybrid car buyers and
therefore does not include the House provision.
·
The Senate bill protects the state's Ocean Sanctuaries Act
by eliminating the House initiative to remove environmental protections
preventing the construction of a 120-turbine wind farm in Buzzards Bay,
and instead inserting the Senate's comprehensive Ocean Management bill
which passed unanimously in September.
·
The Senate bill restores the viability of the
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) by keeping the Renewable
Energy Trust Fund under MTC control.
·
The Senate bill also includes language authorizing the
eligibility of coal gasification as an alternative energy source with
two critical safeguards absent from the House bill. The two safeguards
are the permanent sequestration of carbon dioxide emissions and a
requirement that net emissions are no greater than those from the
cleanest gas facilities.
The
House and Senate are now working on compromise energy legislation.
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