Jehlen, Senate Support Clean Energy Bill

The Senate Passes Bill Designed to Promote Clean Energy and Lower Electricity Costs

On Thursday, the Senate passed a bill designed to promote clean energy in a cost effective manner while also lowering the price of electricity by increasing energy competition. Massachusetts is already a leader in clean energy and this bill will help spur additional job growth in that sector.

“This bill is designed to promote clean energy, increase energy efficiency, encourage job growth, and reduce electricity costs,” said Senator Patricia Jehlen. “It is vital that we continue our transition to clean energy while also controlling the high energy costs that are a heavy burden on many working families and small businesses.”

The bill seeks to reduce the price of electricity by identifying cost-drivers, reviewing rates on a more regular basis, and demanding more competition. The bill would end the current contract program under the Green Communities Act and require investor-owned utilities to competitively bid proposals from renewable energy suppliers for long-term renewable energy contracts. It would increase the net metering cap, doubling the limits on municipal and privately-owned projects that generate their own renewable energy. It also would change various Department of Public Utilities regulations.

The Commonwealth has positioned itself as a frontrunner in the clean energy economy, which currently employs 64,000 people statewide, and has become one of the top states for innovation, investment, employment, and policy. This bill hopes to further stimulate the industry in order to create good jobs for Massachusetts residents. By changing the contracting process, clean energy companies should find it easier to obtain stable financing.

One issue with the bill as originally drafted was that it had the potential to prevent people in communities that have adopted the stretch code from participating in energy efficiency rebate programs such as Mass Save.  The stretch code is a more stringent building code that emphasizes energy efficiency and it has been adopted by all of the communities in Senator Jehlen’s district.  Senator Jehlen successfully advocated for an amendment offered by Senator Pacheco (D) New Bedford that removed this provision. 

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives.

– Information from State Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville, Medford)