The bill titled "An Act advancing the clean energy transition" aims to strengthen the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources by establishing new divisions dedicated to energy efficiency, renewable energy development, and clean energy procurement, among others. Key amendments include the replacement of the second paragraph of Section 2 in Chapter 25A, which details the responsibilities and structure of these divisions, and the addition of a new subsection (15) to Section 6 that requires the development of resource solicitation plans for clean energy generation. The bill also repeals subsections (k) through (o) of Section 21 to streamline the regulatory framework.

Additionally, the legislation introduces a new Section 22 that defines terms related to clean energy and establishes a framework for competitive solicitations for energy services. It mandates the publication of a resource solicitation plan every three years and sets a goal of achieving at least 10 gigawatts of solar energy deployment by 2035. The bill also creates an office of a distributed generation and clean energy ombudsperson to facilitate interconnection processes and improve long-term planning, while requiring electric distribution companies to engage stakeholders in developing a flexible interconnection program. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance Massachusetts' clean energy initiatives and ensure compliance with greenhouse gas emissions targets.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 25A-2, 25A-17