DiMasi promotes clean energy
Friday, November 9, 2007
By: David Kibbe

Cape Cod Times

BOSTON — The state would meet at least 20 percent of its energy needs with renewable energy such as wind power by 2020 under sweeping legislation proposed yesterday by House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi.

DiMasi was joined by Gov. Deval Patrick, Attorney General Martha Coakley and Senate leaders as he rolled out the legislation, which is expected to be approved by the House Thursday.

The bill, which was negotiated over the past 11 months, would require the state to increase its use of renewable energy by five times above present levels.

"This is a comprehensive plan that will result in energy conservation and efficiency, as well as creating new, alternative sources that are clean and renewable," DiMasi said at a press conference in the House members' lounge at the Statehouse. "We are today embarking on a new era of energy reform that is bold and innovative and will forever change how we purchase and use and create our energy here in Massachusetts."

Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, also supports the bill. With formal sessions ending for the year in less than two weeks, she predicted the Senate would take up the energy plan in January.

Murray liked a section of the bill that allows the Department of Public Utilities to periodically audit utility companies.

"I think it's a great bill," Murray said in an interview. "The renewables and the oversight and the auditing of utilities, I think that's extremely important. I think some of the utilities haven't been audited in twenty-something years. We should know where the money is going."

The bill would provide a market for energy sources such as wind power by requiring utilities to enter into 10- or 15-year contracts for renewable energy.

Mark Rodgers, a spokesman for Cape Wind, said the developers of the proposed Nantucket Sound wind farm were still studying the bill.

The bill would also offer consumers a $2,000 state income tax deduction for the purchase of a hybrid or alternative fuel car. Businesses would get a tax credit of up to $300 to buy a solar water heating system.

The state would also be required to "lead by example" and replace its older vehicles with more fuel-efficient cars and trucks.

And consumers could request low-interest loans from a $5 million fund to make their homes more energy efficient.

DiMasi filed an initial version of the bill in March, only to see it picked apart inside and outside government. He withdrew a proposed major reorganization on energy regulation, deferring to Patrick's administration.

Patrick called the revised bill the result of a "collaborative process." He said it extends the commitment of state leaders to meet all future electricity demand through efficiency, rather than through power generation, within three years.

Murray said consumers and businesses would get financial incentives to conserve electricity. One provision would allow consumers to buy energy saving products through their utilities at no upfront cost.

Murray predicted the energy plan would reduce electricity demand.

If the state did need new sources of power, she predicted they would come from smaller, cleaner power plants.

The legislation is supported by environmental and business groups, including the Conservation Law Foundation, NStar and Associated Industries of Massachusetts.

"We look forward to working with the speaker and the Senate president to see this bill become law," said Richard Lord, CEO of Associated Industries of Massachusetts.

David Kibbe can be reached at dkottaway@aol.com.