C. Promote the use of renewable resources
Massachusetts is one of several states that require that a certain percentage of the power sold by utilities be generated from renewable sources. In 1997, the state adopted a Renewable Portfolio Standard that sets a goal of generating 4% of the state’s power from new renewable sources by 2009 with a 1% rise each year thereafter. The recently adopted Green Communities Act also sets targets for the Renewable Portfolio Standard, establishes a new Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, and requires utilities to secure long term contracts (10-15 years) for renewable sources constituting 3% of their total load. These long-term contracts will help to spur construction and financing of new renewables.
Additionally, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, through the Renewable Energy Trust, currently offers incentives for the installation of renewable energy devices such as wind turbines and solar panels. The Commonwealth Solar program was recently established to help homeowners install solar power, and this program might be applied to a wider range of property types.
9) Reduce regulatory and financial barriers to local renewable energy production
As of 2008, there are approximately 27 megawatts of renewable energy installed in the MAPC region with about 33 megawatts in development. Continued growth of renewable power in the region can be fostered through regulatory reform and technical assistance to allow more uniform and streamlined permitting processes for renewable energy installations. Regional planning agencies, state agencies and business representatives should coordinate to develop outreach and education programs to promote siting of renewable energy installations.
In the past, smaller scale generators of renewable power were limited by net metering rules that severely limited the amount of power they could sell back into the electric grid, at 60 kilowatts. The recently passed Green Communities Act increased the amount of power allowed to be sold back into the grid up to 2 megawatts. This change will allow the owners of land with good wind resources but no facility nearby to provide power to an opportunity to develop independent, small scale energy installations that could sell their power directly to utilities.
9.a Municipalities should adopt renewable energy siting bylaws and streamlined permitting processes
9.b MAPC should work with the Division of Green Communities to assist cities and towns in drafting and implementing new siting bylaws and streamlined permitting changes
9.c The Department of Energy Resources, together with Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, should expand Commonwealth Solar
9.d The Ocean Management Advisory Commission should encourage offshore wind energy facilities while ensuring appropriate siting of such facilities
10) Increase market demand for renewable energy
The Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) establishes targets for the use of renewable sources. The Green Communities Act divides RPS into two classes. Class I includes new solar, wind, new and incremental hydro, and low-emission advanced biomass technologies. The bill sets a target that Class I resources should account for 15% of Massachusetts energy sales by 2020. Class II eligible technologies include existing low-emission biomass and existing hydropower; targets for Class II RPS requirements will be set by Division of Energy Resources.
The next step in establishing markets for renewable energy is to establish a carbon dioxide emissions registry, a precursor to a carbon banking and trading program that will fully monetize the costs of pollution.
10.a The state should create a carbon dioxide registry as an interim step to a carbon trading program
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