This Web page summarizes wind activity on the following topics for the state of Massachusetts. Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
 Vestas turbine at Hull Municipal Lighting Plant, Hull, Massachusetts. This turbine provides enough electricity to power the street lights of Hull. Search for more wind-related photos in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory PIX database. Operating and Planned Wind Projects
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Policies and Guidelines
State Policies in Massachusetts
This information was last updated on 7/23/2009. Massachusetts has implemented a wide range of policies to encourage and support wind power. In early 2009, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick announced a goal of developing 2,000 MW of wind power capacity by 2020. Gov. Patrick has directed Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles to use the 2,000-MW wind goal, as well as mandates and incentives laid out in the 2008 Green Communities Act, to guide the state's efforts to increase the development and deployment of wind power. Installing 2,000 MW of wind capacity would meet an estimated 10% of the state's current electric load. For more information, see the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Web site.
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This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) administers the Renewable Portfolio Standard program, which was first created as part of the 1997 Electricity Restructuring Act. The initial Renewable Portfolio Standard program created a single class for eligible "New" (post-1997) renewable resources, and a target of 4% by December 31, 2009 — with Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources discretion over increases thereafter. In 2008, the Massachusetts legislature passed the Green Communities Act (GCA) which, among many other energy policy related changes, made several important revisions to the Renewable Portfolio Standard (Sec. 32 of the Green Communities Act). The revised Renewable Portfolio Standard regulations went into effect on June 12, 2009. Key revisions to the Renewable Portfolio Standard include:
- Renamed "New" resources as "Class I" and expanded Class I resource eligibility to include certain new and incremental hydroelectric generation, certain biomass and biofuel sources, geothermal and marine resources.
- Codified annual Class I Renewable Portfolio Standard target increases of 1% beginning in 2010, removing Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources' discretion over such increases.
- Created a "Class II" requirement for pre-1998 resources.
More Information
Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs.
Download Adobe Reader.
Long-Term Contracting
This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. In June 2009, the Department of Public Utilities adopted the final regulations proposed for renewable energy long-term contract pilot program provisions of the Green Communities Act (sec. 83). The Green Communities Act requires the state's investor-owned distribution utilities to conduct a minimum of two solicitations over the next five years for 10 to 15 year renewable energy certificates (or bundled energy and renewable energy certificates) contracts, from new renewable energy generators in Massachusetts or adjacent state and Federal waters. The utilities receive annual remuneration equal to 4% of the contract value, and are not obligated to contract for more than 3% of the energy demand of all distribution customers (whether supplied by the utility or competitive suppliers). A copy of the Notice, the Order and the Regulations can be found at the Department of Public Utilities Web site.
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This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. Officials of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and local legislators are in the process of exploring the possibility of developing large-scale wind installations in some regions of the state, particularly coastal areas and ridge tops in western Massachusetts. A recent study of the "Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Potential at State-Owned Facilities (PDF 1.1 MB) Download Adobe Reader" concluded that there are sufficient wind resources to develop approximately 947 megawatts (MW) of wind power on state lands (approximately half of Governor Patrick's goal to develop 2,000 MW of wind power by 2020). For more information, see press release "Patrick Administration Solicits Feedback on Wind Power Potential for State-owned Lands (PDF 45 KB) Download Adobe Reader."
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This information was last updated on 8/26/2009. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection encourages development of photovoltaic panels or wind turbines at inactive landfills as long as the use will not compromise the environmental protection afforded by the landfill cap and closure.
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Incentives
Includes taxes, system benefits charge, and net metering. Net metering requires electric utilities to permit customers to reduce their electric bills by generating their own power using small-scale renewable energy systems. The excess power they generate can be fed back to their utilities, actually running their electric meters backwards.
Public Benefits Fund
This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. The Public Benefits Funds is a legislatively mandated surcharge on electricity delivered by the state's investor-owned utilities. It funds programs under the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
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Several past Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust programs supporting wind (Large Onsite Renewable Initiative [LORI], Community Wind Collaborative [CWC], and Small Renewables Initiative [SRI]) have been folded into a single new program, Commonwealth Wind. The goal of the program is to assist responsibly sited wind energy projects of all scales in achieving installations, and supporting Governor Patrick's 2,000 megawatts (MW) of wind by 2020 goal. There are three initiatives within this program: Micro Wind, which replaces SRI, provides rebates for the installation of wind projects that are up to 10 kilowatts; Community-Scale Wind, which replaces CWC and the wind portion of LORI, awards grants for qualifying wind projects with a nameplate capacity greater than or equal to 100 kW; and Commercial Wind provides grants and loans to developers of multi-turbine commercial projects.
Offshore Initiatives
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative along with partners General Electric (GE) and U.S. Department of Energy formed the Offshore Wind Energy Collaborative to identify and address technical, environmental, and regulatory issues necessary to enable offshore wind energy to contribute as an important part of the region's long term supply portfolio. The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust is also collaborating on the development of the Offshore Wind Energy Collaborative to create guidelines with input from stakeholders interested in sustainable, technologically sound development of offshore wind energy resources. Education Outreach and Public Awareness
Wind power outreach and education initiatives include the Public Awareness Initiative to increase the profile of renewable energy with the public, the Cape & Islands Offshore Wind Stakeholder Process to facilitate informed public dialogue on the Cape Wind project, and the K-12 Education Initiative to ensure that renewable energy is incorporated into the curricula of Massachusetts schools. -
The Green Jobs Act of 2008 created the quasi-public Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's purpose is to accelerate job growth and economic development in the state's clean energy industry. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center has several functions that include: serving as a support center for the clean energy sector, making direct investments in new and existing companies, providing assistance to enable companies to access capital and other resources, and promoting training programs. Two particular initiatives that support growth in the clean energy industry include: Company Catalyst and Workforce Development and Training.
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This information was last updated on 7/28/2009. In 2009, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities implemented new net metering rules, as prescribed in the 2008 Green Communities Act (Sec. 78). The Green Communities Act and new regulations create three classes of net metering facilities:
- Class I: for all technologies, any facility up to 60 kW
- Class II: agricultural, wind and solar facilities* > 60 kW and = 1 MW
- Class III: agricultural, wind and solar facilities* > 1 MW and = 2 MW
* Except that for municipal and governmental entities each unit (as opposed to “facility”) within these capacity bounds qualifies.
Previously, net metering had been limited to facilities up to 60 kW.
The Green Communities Act also introduces "aggregate" or "virtual" net metering under certain circumstances. This approach allows the aggregation and off-setting of multiple loads not co-located with the generator for projects meeting certain ownership criteria.
The three types of projects eligible for aggregate or virtual net metering include:
- Projects owned by municipalities and certain other governmental entities
- Neighborhood net metering projects: where the ownership group includes no less than 10 residential customers who are served by a single utility within a single load zone.
- Projects owned by Massachusetts agricultural businesses, which may aggregate their geographically separated loads within a single utility service territory.
Each investor-owned utility is required to offer net metering. Municipal utilities are not required to offer net metering, but may choose to do so voluntarily. The obligation to offer net metering is capped at 1% of each utility's historic peak load.
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Standby Rates
This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. Standby rates impact the economics of customer-sited wind projects. The Green Communities Act (GCA sec. 78) requires the Department of Public Utility to continue to remove impediments to the development of distributed generation resulting in the Department of Public Utility initiating an investigation (docket 07-6-A), in 2008, into these rates and alternative rate structures that will promote distributed generation deployment. This investigation follows up the 2006 Final Report of the Distributed Generation Collaborative and the 2007 Investigation to Promote Efficient Deployment of Distributed Generation (docket 07-6). The the Department of Public Utility will address the impact of rate structures on customers with distributed generation in the context of each EDC's decoupling rate case. The Department of Public Utility expects each company to: (1) determine whether standby rates are appropriate, and (2) design such rates to remove impediments to distributed generation consistent with the Green Communities Act. Accordingly, the Department of Public Utility has closed Docket 07-6 and opened Docket 07-6-A.
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Siting
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This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. The Green Communities Act (GCA sec. 89) created a siting commission to examine streamlining the siting of energy facilities in Massachusetts . The Commission is to report their findings 18 months after the Green Communities Act effective date. The commission will look at whether current laws and regulations adequately facilitate renewable energy siting, or make renewable energy more difficult to site than fossil fuel plants. It will also consider whether renewable energy generation should be allowed as a right on industrial zoned property. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) has a dedicated siting reform resource page with more information.
Zoning Bylaw
This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Energy Resources have completed an update to the model wind zoning bylaw. The wind zoning bylaw, which applies to utility-scale, on-site wind facilities and small wind energy systems, includes building integrated wind systems, and physical modifications to existing wind facilities that materially alter the type, configuration, or size of such facilities or other equipment. The bylaw was prepared to assist cities and towns in establishing reasonable standards for wind power development. The bylaw was developed as a model and not intended for adoption without specific review by municipal counsel. The revised model wind bylaw (PDF 150 KB) Download Adobe Reader has been published on the Department of Energy Resources Web site.
Ocean Energy Plan
This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. The Oceans Act of 2008 requires the establishment of a comprehensive management plan for ocean development. The Plan addresses the circumstances under which offshore wind energy development may be considered a permitted use. The new law allows renewable energy projects in the state's ocean sanctuaries, subject to the terms of the management plan. The law charges the secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to release a draft plan in 2009, after conducting a scientific and stakeholder process, and have a final plan in effect by 2010.
More Information
- Draft Ocean Plan and related resources
- Environmental Business Council of New England 2009 Wind Energy Seminar: The Emerging Regulatory Environment for Offshore Wind energy, presentation "Mass Oceans Plan — Status of the Massachusetts Offshore Program (PDF 17.5 MB) Download Adobe Reader" by Deerin Babb-Brott, Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Mass CZM
- Site Screening Tools to aid in identifying potential sites for renewable energy
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Transmission, Interconnection, and System Integration
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This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. Massachusetts' Interim Uniform Interconnection Standards established in 2004 allows wind and other distributed generation operating in the state to interconnect to utility systems.
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Other Initiatives
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This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. In cooperation between the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a Wind Technology Testing Center is being planned within proximity to Boston.
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This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. The Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act was signed into law in August 2008 by Governor Patrick. The bill establishes a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. This makes it the most aggressive greenhouse gas bill in the nation. The aggressive reductions laid out in the law will create additional impetus for wind power in the region.
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Buying Wind Energy
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This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. A renewable energy program offered by Massachusetts Electric Company. Through this program, Massachusetts Electric's customers can choose from seven green power offerings from four independent suppliers, all of which include some fraction of wind power.
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This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. Cape Light Compact, an opt-out consumer aggregation covering all 21 towns of Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard, and Barnstable and Dukes counties, offers its customers the ability to purchase wind power.
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This information was last updated on 8/20/2009. NSTAR Green enables NSTAR Basic Service customers to support renewable energy generated electricity. Basic Service customers can choose to have half or all of their electricity use support wind power.
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List of Installers and Vendors
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Massachusetts has a Wind Working Group. Click on the link for more information. Back to Top
Click on the link to read more about the wind resources in Massachusetts. Back to Top
Read more information about events happening in the New England region.
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Total of 42 records found.
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Date   |
State |
Type of Information |
Program Area |
Title |
More Details |
| 4/30/2009 |
MA |
Publication
|
Siting
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Renewable Energy Siting Study |
...more |
| 3/31/2009 |
MA |
Publication
|
Econ. Dev.
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Economic Benefits, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions Reductions, and Water Conservation Benefits from 1,000 Megawatts (MW) of New Wind Power in Massachusetts |
...more |
| 2/20/2009 |
MA |
Publication
|
 |
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Potential at State-Owned Facilities and Lands |
...more |
| 8/6/2008 |
MA |
Publication
|
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Massachusetts Renewable Energy Potential: Final Report |
...more |
| 5/20/2008 |
MA |
Publication
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New England Wind Forum Newsletter |
...more |
| 5/20/2008 |
MA |
News
Interview
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New England Interview: Brian Fairbank, President and CEO, Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort |
...more |
| 1/1/2008 |
MA |
Publication
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Massachusetts Wind Energy Information Sources Postcard |
...more |
| 10/4/2007 |
MA |
Publication
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New England Wind Forum Newsletter |
...more |
| 8/15/2007 |
MA |
News
|
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Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort Wind Turbine |
...more |
| 4/19/2007 |
MA |
Video
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Videos: Hull Wind Turbines 1 and 2 |
...more |
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