Bill > S2301

This bill aims to facilitate municipal aggregation by requiring the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to mandate that investor-owned utilities create a non-export interconnect permit tariff for Municipal Aggregation customers within three months of the bill's enactment. The utility cannot charge a fee for this permit or impose delays or additional study requirements for municipal governments seeking to build renewable Distributed Energy Resources (DER) for the benefit of their residents and businesses enrolled in the Municipal Aggregation program. The bill also requires the DPU to approve or reject, within three months, a municipality's application to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center for funds from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund. If the DPU fails to respond within three months, the application is automatically approved. Any rejection must specifically outline non-compliance issues and cannot place conditions on fund use or program design, as long as the funds are used for energy efficiency and conservation measures. Additionally, municipalities with approved petitions as Municipal Aggregators will receive their pro rata share of energy efficiency funds within one year of approval, thereby streamlining the process for local governments to develop and fund renewable energy and efficiency initiatives.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2301