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The US state of Massachusetts has passed sweeping new climate legislation to accelerate progress towards the state’s goals of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and improve offshore wind permitting.
The bill consolidates reviews of clean energy siting and permitting. This will speed the pace of planning, constructing, and bringing clean energy infrastructure online to support clean energy technologies such as solar, wind, and storage to create an electrified future and reduce emissions.
Large projects that require state, regional, and local permits will be consolidated into a single permit that requires action within 15 months. Small projects with multiple local permits will also be consolidated into one permit and require action within 12 months.
The new legislation will also allow future offshore wind contracts to be set for terms of 15 to 30 years instead of the previous 20-year maximum.
It also directs the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to review the effectiveness of existing solicitations in contributing to state emissions requirements and ensure high labour standards in clean energy, including offshore wind, clean energy generation, and storage procurements.
It further requires DOER, in consultation with DPU and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, to issue guidance on long-term power purchase agreements between offshore wind developers and municipalities, including approved aggregation plans.
The bill also expands existing tax credits for offshore wind facility employers, who now only need 50 full-time employees to be eligible for tax credits and refundable credits for capital investment. |
