Representative Jim Marzilli files legislation to reform Massachusetts Energy Policy

Representative Jim Marzilli and Rep. Matthew Patrick have filed House Bill 3337 “An Act to Promote Energy, Climate and Economic Security”. This bill is a comprehensive approach to reforming Massachusetts’ energy policy and includes dozens of major policy changes affecting utilities, transportation and buildings. It emphasizes energy efficiency and the development of renewable resources as the prime state energy objectives, while providing assistance to our municipalities, residents and businesses in implementing efficiency and renewable programs.

Highlights of H.3337 are:

Utilities

Creates an energy policy process for electricity and natural gas that minimizes costs for consumers big and small by emphasizing conservation and least-cost procurement.

Increases the net metering standard to insure that individuals and businesses that invest in renewable energy devices are fully compensated for the electricity they sell into the electric grid.

Strengthens the existing renewable portfolio standards (RPS) by requiring utilities to acquire renewable energy certificates for no less than the next 15 years in compliance with the Renewable Portfolio Standard statute.

Creates a dedicated renewable portfolio standard (RPS) for combined heat and power.

Decouples utility industry profit from sales, allowing greater investments in conservation by removing industry disincentives for efficiency.

Creates a system benefit charge for gas and home heating fuels to fund energy efficiency programs for consumers.

Brings Massachusetts back into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) with one hundred percent of the allocation of carbon permits by auction.

Transportation

Creates a Clean Car Initiative, establishing a sliding scale sales tax for vehicles, rewarding fuel savers.

Requires that any new state vehicles meet or exceed fuel efficiency standards established by the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Requires the Mass. Highway Department to evaluate highway lighting statewide and to explore how money can be saved by replacing existing fixtures with lower-wattage FCO fixtures or eliminating lighting altogether where appropriate.

Requires fuel stations on the Massachusetts Turnpike to offer over time an increasing number of fuels, including gasoline, diesel, bio-diesel, E85 and/or plug-in electricity.

Buildings

Creates a Green Building Tax Credit for buildings that meet the US Green Building Council LEED standards.

Increases the renewable energy income tax credit to 50% of the cost of a solar system to a maximum of $5,000.

Updates the state building code automatically to conform to the International Energy Conservation Code and any future revisions.

Sets standards for the energy-efficiency of residential buildings financed in whole or in part by the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency or by the Home Mortgage Finance Agency.

Our cities and towns

Removes the state statutory and regulatory barriers to the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

Provides direct funding of municipal conservation and renewable projects from dedicated funds generated by the carbon permit auction in RGGI.

Status

On May 1st the Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy held a hearing on this and a number of other bills related to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Dozens of business leaders and environmental activists, along with a host of legislators testified in support of policies, including Marzilli’s H.3337, which would address the triple burden that Massachusetts faces in the form of high priced energy that pollutes our air and puts us at economic risk. The Committee will be reviewing the bills and the accompanying testimony over the next several months.

If you have any questions about this bill or its status please contact Rep. Marzilli’s office at 617.722.2400.