*UPDATED*
DOER has filed to extend the opportunity for public content on the APS regulations until 5:00 P.M. on August 7, 2017. Additionally, a public hearing will be held in Holyoke on August 7, 2017
Date of Public Hearing: Monday, August 7, 2017 from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.
Location: Holyoke Community College
Kittredge Center
303 Homestead Avenue
Holyoke, MA 01404
On June 2, 2017, DOER filed an amended draft regulation with the Secretary of State’s office, to revise previously released language which includes renewable thermal technologies in the Alternative Portfolio Standard (APS). Additionally, DOER has included new language, which adds fuel cells and waste-to-energy thermal technologies as eligible technologies, pursuant to Chapter 188 of the Acts of 2016. The draft regulation and accompanying Guidelines have been posted to DOER’s website for stakeholder review and comment.
Click here to find the documents
A public hearing shall be held by DOER in order to collect written and verbal stakeholder comment on the revised Regulations and Guidelines.
Date: Friday, July 14, 2017 from 10:00AM to 12:00PM
Location: 100 Cambridge Street
2nd Floor, Conference Room B
Boston, MA 02114
Written comments will be accepted beginning today and ending at 5 PM ET on July 17, 2017. DOER requests that written comments be submitted as attached pdf files to emails addressed to thermal.doer@state.ma.us, with the word APS COMMENTS in the subject line. Alternatively, comments can be submitted via mail to Samantha Meserve at DOER of Energy Resources, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1020, Boston, MA 02114. Comments received will be posted on DOER’s web page.
DOER would like to highlight areas of the regulation where significant revisions have been made, in response to stakeholder input. These include:
- Addition of Fuel Cells and Waste-to-Energy Thermal Technologies
Pursuant to Chapter 188 of the Acts of 2016, the Department has introduced new language which revised the list of eligible APS technologies to include fuel cells and waste-to-energy thermal technologies. This language can be found in 225 CMR 16.02, 225 CMR 16.05(7), and 225 CMR 16.05(8).
- Eligible Woody Biomass: DOER received numerous comments in regards to Eligible Woody Biomass.
In response to these comments, DOER has revised the definition of Eligible Biomass Woody Fuel, added definitions for Clean Wood and Sustainable Forestry Management, added clarifying provisions regarding the Biomass and Biofuels Suppliers Lists, revised the process for qualifying a central wood heating system, specifically relating to the certification of particulate matter emissions, and revised the provisions surrounding cord wood systems. These revisions can be found in 225 CMR 16.02, 225 CMR 16.05(4) and DOER’s Guideline on Biomass, Biogas, and Biofuels for Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation Units.
- Eligible Liquid Biofuel
DOER also received comments requesting that the minimum blend level of 20% for Eligible Liquid Biofuels be reduced and the requirements in regards to the sourcing of waste feedstock be removed.
In response to comments DOER has lowered the minimum blend threshold to 10% and removed the requirement that all waste feedstock come from a jurisdiction with an organic waste disposal ban, equivalent or similar to Massachusetts. However, in order to prevent a dramatic oversupply of certificates as a result of these changes, DOER has introduced provisions which will cap the number of certificates available for Eligible Liquid Biofuel Generation Units to 20% of the estimated Annual Compliance Obligation. The full list of provisions can be found in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(j).
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In order to provide further clarity on the process for ensuring a 50% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for Generation Units using biomass, biogas, and biofuels, DOER has introduced several provisions and an additional Guideline for calculating greenhouse gas emissions. The provisions can be found in 225 CMR 16.05(4)(i), DOER’s Guideline on Biomass, Biogas, and Biofuels for Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation Units and DOER’s Guideline on Reduction of Greenhouse Gases for Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation Units Using Eligible Woody Biomass.
- Multipliers for Non Emitting Technologies
DOER has revised and added new multipliers based on technology type. These changes can be found in 225 CMR 16.05(1)6.b.ii and DOER’s Guideline on Metering and Calculating the Useful Thermal Output of Eligible Renewable Thermal Generation Units.
- Technical Edits and Clarifications
DOER made several changes to revise technical details and language inconsistencies in the regulation and Guidelines. In order to provide clarity regarding certain provisions, language has also been moved from various Guidelines to the regulation.
If you have questions on the documents that have been posted or the rulemaking process, DOER asks that you please direct them to thermal.doer@state.ma.us.