Massachusetts Announces New RPS Rules

[jpak]

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54438

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has released regulations expanding support for renewable energy and alternative energy technologies mandated by the Green Communities Act, the energy reform legislation that the state enacted last year.

The Green Communities Act called for changes in the state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) that would double the rate of increase in the use of new renewable energy, create a new Class II RPS to support the continued operation of older (pre-1998) renewable energy generating facilities. Principal provisions of the regulations include creating two different classes of renewable technologies under the RPS.

RPS Class I Renewables

Geothermal, hydroelectric, and marine and hydro-kinetic (including wave and tidal) energy are now eligible technologies under RPS Class I (in addition to solar and wind technologies), as is algae, as an eligible biomass fuel. In addition, liquid biofuels eligible for RPS Class I are required to meet lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and other standards set by the Clean Energy Biofuels Act of 2008.

Compliance by utilities and other electric suppliers with the RPS requirement will be by purchase of the renewable attributes of electricity generated by eligible renewable energy facilities in the form of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or by making an Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP). The ACP rate began at US $50 per megawatt-hour of RPS obligation in 2003 and is currently US $58.58, changing each year with the Consumer Price Index.

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