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MeetingMassachusettsRequirementsforGreenhouseGasReductions
WHYMASS.MUSTINCREASERENEWABLEPORTFOLIOSTANDARD
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RenewablePortfolioStandard
Todaywewill…• ProvidebroadoverviewofMass.energylegislation
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ExplainRenewablePortfolioStandard(RPS)andwhyitisimportantforclimatechange•
Touchonadditionalcleanenergybills:100%Renewable,CarbonPricing
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Background:ImportantClimateLaws
• MassachusettsElectricUtilityRestructuringAct1997–
EstablishedRPS
• GreenCommunitiesActof2008– AmendedRPS–
ClassIdesignation,indefinite1%annualincrease
• GlobalWarmingSolutionsAct– 2008– 25%reductionsinGHGby2020–
80%reductionsinGHGby2050–
2030&2040“emissionslimit”butnospecific%ordeadline
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GWSA&Kain Decision•
GWSA“4.(a)Thesecretaryshalladoptthe2020statewide
greenhousegasemissionslimitpursuanttosubsection(b)ofsection3whichshallbebetween10percentand25percentbelowthe1990emissionslevelandaplanforachievingsaidreduction.”
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3(d)“Thedepartmentshallpromulgateregulationsestablishingadesiredlevelofdecliningannualaggregateemissionlimitsforsourcesorcategoriesofsourcesthatemitgreenhousegasemissions.”
• May2016SJCunanimousdecision–
MassDEPnotincompliancewith3(d).
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WhatistheRenewablePortfolioStandard(RPS)?
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Requirementthatelectricitysupplierssourceaminimumpercentageoftheirsupplyfromqualifyingrenewableresources
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“ClassI”=NEW(builtsince1998),“ClassII”=OLD(built1997orbefore)
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Eligibleresources:wind,solar,anaerobicdigestion,smallhydro,others.
• InMA,municipalelectricutilitiesareEXEMPTfromRPSrequirements.•
41muni’ssupply50towns,representing14%
ofelectricityload
WhatistheRenewablePortfolioStandard(RPS)?
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ElectricitysupplierswhofailtomeetRPSrequirementspayAlternativeCompliancePayments(ACP)
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ACPpaymentsinMAareinvestedinprogramsandprojectsthatpromotethegrowthandadoptionofrenewableenergyresourcesandfossilfuelalternatives(e.g.,RenewableThermalrebatesissuedbyMassCEC)
WhatistheRenewablePortfolioStandard(RPS)?
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RPS:Climatestrategy,integraltoGWSACompliance
Graphillustrates%renewablesupplyachievedundercurrentRPS(blue)andwithatleast2%increaseproposedinRep.Khanbill(red).
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RPS:Climatestrategy,cont.
• GWSAmandatesGHGemissionreductionsof25%by2020,80%by2050.
• GWSAcompliancerequires:1)
Electricgridtobepoweredbyrenewableenergyratherthan
fossilfuels;2)
Moreofoureconomytobepoweredbyelectricity,especially
transportationandheating.• CARScanrunonelectricity!•
HEATINGfuels(oil,“natural”gas)
canbereplacedbyheatpumps
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RPS:Driverofdemand,economiccontributor.
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RPS:Driverofdemand,economiccontributor,cont.
• Reducesdemandfornaturalgas• Sendsmarketsignalthat
demandforrenewableenergyisconsistent,enduring
• Sustaineddemandmakesprojectsfinanceable…
investorsfeelmoresecureinvesting!
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Newprojectscomingonlinebringlocalandregionaleconomicbenefits.
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CleanEnergy=JOB$
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29stateshaveRenewablePortfolio/RenewableEnergyStandardsinPlace
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Eachstate’sRenewablePortfolioStandardisdifferent,butMassachusettshasanespeciallyhighstandardforwhatconstitutesClassIeligiblecleanresource.
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•Helpusmeetlegalmandateof25%by2020,80%by2050•
Ideallyadditionalinterimgoals•Currentrateofincreasesimplynotenoughtomeetourgoals
•HelpusmaintainclimateleadershipinageofTrump•
Statesmustlead,andlooktoMass.inparticular
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WhyRPSIncrease?
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StateRPSs:Massfallingbehind
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WhyRPSincrease,cont.•Morerenewableenergymeans….•moreJOBS!•
BetterECONOMYasenergy$$stayshere!($22Bayear)• BetterHEALTH!•
NoPIPELINEScostingbillionsandcuttingthroughconservationlands!
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RPSBillsH.2700,Rep.KayKhan(D-Newton)◦
increaserateofincreaseto2%fromcurrent1%◦
EndmuniexemptionfromRPS
H.1747– Rep.PatHaddad(D-Somerset)S.1880–
Sen.MarcPacheco(D-Taunton)
NEXTSTEP
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BillmustbevotedoutofTelecom,UtilitiesandEnergy(TUE)Committee
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OtherImp.CleanEnergyBills
S.1849-
Sen.JamieEldridge(D-Acton)AnActtransitioningMassachusettsto100%RenewableEnergyH.1726–
Rep.JenBenson(D-Lunenberg)AnActtoPromoteGreenInfrastructure,reducegreenhousegasemissions,andcreatejobs•
Wouldintroduceapriceoncarbondioxidepollution,with20%oftherevenuesdedicatedtogreeninfrastructure,andtherestrebatedaccordingtoprogressiveformula.
NEXTSTEP
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BillsmustbevotedoutofTelecom,UtilitiesandEnergy(TUE)Committee
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AdditionalResources
RPSProgramOverviews&HelpfulAnalysesEOEEA:http://www.mass.gov/eea/energy-utilities-clean-tech/renewable-energy/rps-aps/
DSIRE(DatabaseofStateIncentivesforRenewables&Efficiency):http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/479
LawrenceBerkeleyNationalLab(LBNL):
https://emp.lbl.gov/projects/renewables-portfolio
Questions?EmilyNortonMassachusettsDirector617-423-5775emily.norton@sierraclub.org
