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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 652 FILED ON: 1/16/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3229
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Aaron L. Saunders
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act prohibiting public and ratepayer funding of clearcutting forests and woodlands.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Aaron L. Saunders7th Hampden1/16/2023Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk1/20/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 652 FILED ON: 1/16/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3229
By Representative Saunders of Belchertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3229)
of Aaron L. Saunders and Marcus S. Vaughn relative to prohibiting public utility and ratepayer
funding of clearcutting forests and woodlands. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act prohibiting public and ratepayer funding of clearcutting forests and woodlands.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department
2of energy resources and department of public utilities shall amend any rules, regulations, and
3tariffs pursuant to section 11 of chapter 75 of the acts of 2016 or successor statute to prohibit
4from qualification any solar facility, including any solar energy generating source, that (1) has
5not received a statement of qualification, or similar official notice of approval, from the
6department prior to January 1, 2023 and (2) is greater than or equal to nameplate capacity of
7500kW if such facility meets any of the following criteria:
8 (i) is located within a parcel that includes priority habitat as delineated by the division of
9fisheries and wildlife under chapter 131A
10 (ii) is located within an area of critical environmental concern as designated by the
11secretary of energy and environmental affairs
12 (iii) is located within forest land as defined in section 2 of chapter 61 of the general laws 2 of 2
13
14 SECTION 2. A prohibition established in Section 1 shall not apply to facilities located
15within a brownfield or within eligible landfills as determined by the commissioner of the
16department of energy resources; nor shall such prohibition apply to building mounted facilities or
17facilities sited upon previously developed land.