Hearing March 22 on Massachusetts' Solar Program: Regulatory Changes to 225 CMR 14.00 RPS Class I

On Friday, March 22, 2013, the Commonwealth is holding two important hearings regarding the State's solar programs:

1. Post-400 MW Solar Policy Development - In the morning, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, the State is holding hearings on the post-400 MW solar policy development.  A presentation relevant to this hearing is available here.  Information about the Hearing is available here.   
2. Regulatory Changes to 225 CMR 14.00 RPS Class I - In the afternoon of March 22, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, the State is convening hearings regarding the proposed changes to the laws regarding the solar carve out program.  Information about the Hearings and the Proposed Changes are available here.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND HEARING

Notice is hereby given that the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”), acting under statutory authority of Section 11F of Chapter 25A of the General Laws, and in conformance with Chapter 30A of the General Laws, is holding a public hearing on proposed amendments to portions of 225 CMR 14--Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Class I (“RPS Class I”). The RPS Class I regulations require all retail electricity suppliers selling electricity to end-use customers in the Commonwealth to obtain a specific minimum percentage of their electricity supply from renewable energy generation sources. The proposed amendments: (1) make strategic revisions to the Solar Carve-Out portion of the RPS Class I program to improve program design and address market concerns; and (2) make several other (non-solar) revisions to
likewise improve the RPS Class I program.

A public hearing will be conducted to receive verbal and written comments on the proposed regulations.

Location: Gardner Auditorium, Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA 02133

Date: March 22, 2013 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

Verbal and written testimony will be accepted at the hearing; however, parties are requested to provide written copies of their testimony. Written comments will be accepted beginning on March 1, 2013 and ending at 5 pm on March 25, 2013. Please submit written comments to Michael Judge, via mail to the Department of Energy Resources, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1020, Boston, MA 02114, or electronically to DOER.SREC@state.ma.us. Copies of the proposed regulations may be obtained from the DOER website www.mass.gov/doer or by contacting Michael Judge at michael.judge@state.ma.us.

BY ORDER OF: 

Mark Sylvia, Commissioner
Department of Energy Resources.