The bill, Substitute Senate Bill No. 382, concerns the solicitation of run-of-the-river hydropower and energy derived from offshore wind. It amends Section 16a-3h of the general statutes, effective July 1, 2024, to allow the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to solicit proposals for various renewable resources, including run-of-the-river hydropower, offshore wind, and others, provided they meet the definition of a Class I renewable energy source. The bill includes insertions that specify the commissioner may select proposals to meet up to six percent of the load distributed by the state's electric distribution companies, with a cap of three percent from offshore wind resources. The commissioner may direct electric distribution companies to enter into power purchase agreements for periods of not more than twenty years for certain resources, and not more than thirty years for run-of-the-river hydropower or offshore wind resources.

The bill also outlines the factors the commissioner should consider when selecting proposals, such as the interest of ratepayers, emissions profile, economic development impacts, and consistency with greenhouse gas reduction requirements. It allows for the sale or retention of certificates issued by the New England Power Pool Generation Information System for Class I renewable energy sources procured under this section. The bill includes deletions of outdated dates and clarifies the terms of power purchase agreements. The net costs of any agreement shall be recovered through electric rates for all customers, and costs incurred by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in connection with the solicitation and review of proposals are recoverable through federally mandated congestion charges. The bill's fiscal impact statement indicates no fiscal impact to the state or municipalities. The effective date of the bill is July 1, 2024, and it amends Section 16a-3h.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
ET Joint Favorable:
File No. 348: