DeLeo prefers omnibus energy bill
With various energy proposals advanced this year by the Senate and Gov. Charlie Baker, and activists claiming solar power development is stalling out, House Speaker Robert DeLeo is hoping to avoid a piecemeal approach to energy law changes.
The Senate attached to a climate change adaptation bill a move to lift the cap on the number of solar megawatts eligible for a specific incentive, and Baker filed legislation that would lift the cap a different way. Baker also filed a bill that could facilitate the purchase of hydroelectricity from Canada.
Solar industry representatives have pushed for action to lift the net metering cap, which determines how many megawatts of commercial and public-sector solar energy can be sold back to the grid at the retail rate, which is significantly higher than the wholesale prices.
DeLeo would prefer solar policy be wrapped into an omnibus bill.
"What I'm trying to do is try to get a comprehensive piece of legislation on energy so that we address solar, we address off-shore wind, on-shore wind, hydro, gas," DeLeo said in an interview while attending a Democratic convention in Springfield on Saturday.
The Legislature last session was unable to agree on an expansive solar energy bill, and in 2010 efforts to pass a comprehensive bill overhauling the process for land-based wind projects collapsed.
Lawmakers in 2012 did pass a follow-up to the Green Communities Act, which was signed by Gov. Deval Patrick, that expanded the cap on solar net metering, more than doubled the amount of renewable energy utilities must purchase through long-term contracts, and required more frequent regulatory rate reviews to try to control prices.
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