Below you will find a summary of S.2214, An act relative to credit for thermal energy generated with renewable fuels, written by the staff of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

Chapter 251 of the Acts of 2014

 

JOINT COMMITTEE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, UTILITIES AND ENERGY

BILL SUMMARY

BILL NO:                              S. 2214/H4385

TITLE:                                  An Act relative to credit for thermal energy generated with renewable fuels

CURRENT LAW:               

• Chapter 25A, Section 11F1/2 establishes the alternative renewable energy portfolio standard (APS). Retail electric suppliers are required to provide a minimum percentage of kilowatt-hour sales to customers from alternative energy generating sources.

• Current net-metering caps are at 3% for both public and private projects of a utilities highest historical peak load.

• No hydro net-metering

SUMMARY:

Thermal: The legislation would add thermal energy to the alternative energy portfolio standard. Chapter 25A, section 3 is amended by adding a definition for “useful thermal energy”. Chapter 25A is further amended in section 11F1/2 by adding any facility that generates useful thermal energy to be included in the alternative energy generating sources available to suppliers to meet their required APS.

Net-Metering: The legislation would raise the private net-metering cap to 4% and the public net-metering cap to 5%. A task force is established to review the long-term viability of net metering in the Commonwealth that will support the deployment of 1600MW. There will be two opportunities for public comment. First meeting on or before October 1, 2014 and report on or before March 31, 2015.

Hydro: The legislation establishes a study to determine the feasibility of allowing small hydro (less than 2 MW) to net-meter. DPU shall submit a report along with draft legislation by July 1, 2015.

Andrew Bettinelli
Legislative Aide
Office of State Senator William N. Brownsberger