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Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island governors look to expand renewable energy
Credit: Mass., Conn., R.I. governors look to expand renewable energy | By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press | www.rep-am.com ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
The governors of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island teamed up Wednesday to begin looking for ways to increase the region’s reliance on renewable energy sources while also expanding natural gas capacity.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said the effort is part of a push to reduce energy costs, strengthen grid reliability and increase the region’s economic competitiveness. He said it’s also important for Massachusetts to embrace regional cooperation with neighboring states to pursue natural gas expansion.
Under the plan, electric distribution companies in the three states will collaborate with their respective state agencies to begin a competitive bidding process to seek proposals from suppliers of clean energy resources, including wind, solar, small hydro, biomass, fuel cells and other non-carbon emitting sources.
“This regional partnership will allow Massachusetts to acquire cost effective renewable resources for the Commonwealth’s energy supply,” Baker said.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy said the states’ collaboration opens the possibility of procuring large-scale projects and transmission to deliver clean energy on a scale that no single state could secure.
“By working together with neighboring states we can make the most efficient use of our resources to attract new clean energy projects at the lowest possible cost for ratepayers while advancing our interests in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases,” Malloy said in a statement.
Malloy said the three states took the first step in the procurement process by formally releasing a draft request for proposals, including a 30-day comment period that ends March 26. After considering the comments, the states will issue a final request for proposals this spring.
The draft proposal request allows the states to consider projects for delivering clean energy through traditional power purchase agreements that don’t require transmission upgrades; purchase power agreements that require transmission upgrades; and transmission projects containing clean energy commitments but without any associated power purchase agreements.
Baker also said he’s also directed the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to file a request with the state Department of Public Utilities to begin a process to determine how electric utilities can pursue gas capacity contracts to improve winter reliability and lower winter electricity costs.
He said the agencies will also explore ways to expand natural gas expansion under existing law.
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