| House Speaker Robert DeLeo on Tuesday described the energy bill set to land on the floor of the House Wednesday as “very comprehensive” despite concerns raised by one leading senator about the scope of the bill and a promise of significant revisions once the matter comes before the Senate.
The energy bill would require utility companies, subject to Department of Public Utilities approval, to competitively solicit and purchase a combined 2,400 megawatts of renewable hydro and offshore wind power through long-term contracts in an effort to diversify the state’s energy mix.
“We’ve already tackled the solar piece. We’re talking about hydro. We’re talking about offshore wind. So quite frankly, I see this bill as very comprehensive in terms of addressing our energy needs for the future,” DeLeo told reporters after a private caucus with House Democrats to discuss the legislation.
With just seven weeks left for formal sessions, however, the scope of the ambitions in the House and Senate for energy policy updates could complicate the bill’s chances of final passage before the end of July.
When the original House leadership bill was released two weeks ago, Sen. Benjamin Downing, the co-chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee, said the bill was “by no means complete or comprehensive.”
“If the goal is to address climate and cost, then you can’t put forward a bill that omits building on the progress we’ve made on energy efficiency,” Downing said, adding, “We certainly need to do more and have a more concerted strategy on storage.”
With energy efficiency and storage just two of the ideas Downing said he would explore adding to the bill once it gets to the Senate, DeLeo said the House would go into conference negotiations with the Senate “in good faith to try to get something done.”
But the speaker also said he thought the bill slated for debate Wednesday is “a very comprehensive bill as it is.”
“In terms of further expansion, I have no idea what the senator could be referring to considering that we discussed and we looked upon all the new and clean sources of energy,” DeLeo said.
Mass Audubon on Tuesday was trying to round up support for a Rep. Frank Smizik amendment to the House energy bill requiring the state to adopt a climate change adaptation plan. Senators have twice approved adaptation plan proposals this session, but the idea has so far failed to gain traction in the House.
As of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 16 amendments had been filed by House lawmakers and posted to the Legislature’s website for consideration on Wednesday.
