1 of 1 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2778 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3568 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Aaron L. Saunders _________________ 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 relative to prohibiting public utility and ratepayer funding of clearcutting forests and woodlands. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Aaron L. Saunders7th Hampden1/16/2025 1 of 2 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2778 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3568 By Representative Saunders of Belchertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3568) of Aaron L. Saunders relative to prohibiting public utility and ratepayer funding of clearcutting forests and woodlands. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court (2025-2026) _______________ An Act relative to prohibiting public utility 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, 2025 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 2 of 2 12 (iii) is located within forest land as defined in section 2 of chapter 61 of the general laws 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.