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Massachusetts Biotechnology Council Law and Policy Committee July 9, 2009. The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council Law and Policy Committee July 9 th , 2009. The New Balance: Environment and Energy. Robert Ruddock. Context. Business as Usual: 90 plus years
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Massachusetts Biotechnology Council Law and Policy Committee July 9, 2009 The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council Law and Policy Committee July 9th, 2009 The New Balance: Environment and Energy Robert Ruddock
Context • Business as Usual: 90 plus years • Vertically integrated regulated utilities • Evolving environmental rules • Restructuring Revolution 1997/8 • Competitive generation/electricity sales • Regulated distribution/transmission • Environmental Revolution 2007/8/9 • GHG driver • Profound consumer/ratepayer impacts: cost, generation and conservation • Key Points: • No cost effective technological fix for CO2 reduction • Not a localized pollutant
Mechanisms: Overview • Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – northeast states • Federal legislation (proposed) • Massachusetts Green Communities Act (GCA) • Massachusetts DPU: Decoupling Order • Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) • ISO NE: Transmission projects • DPU National Grid/Bay State Gas cases - now
Mechanisms (cont.) • Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – northeast states • Cap/trade model • 100% auction • 80% Massachusetts revenues to energy efficiency • Federal legislation (proposed) • Cap/trade approach • Not 100% auction
Mechanisms (cont.) • Massachusetts Green Communities Act (GCA) • Energy efficiency/conservation • Renewable Portfolio Standards • Energy building code • Smart Grid • Massachusetts DPU: Decoupling Order • Align utility goals with efficiency goals
Mechanisms (cont.) • Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) • Statutory reduction (1990 emissions) goals: all GHGs • 2020 (10-25%) • 2050 (80%) • Secretary EOEEA rules –discretion: ten working groups/DEP • ISO NE: Transmission projects
Mechanisms (cont.) • DPU National Grid/Bay State Gas cases – now • Rate increases • Decoupling
Big Picture Impacts on Consumers/Ratepayers/Society • Costs • RGGI – through power rates • GCA – add-ons costly • Decoupling – loss of efficiency savings on distribution side • GWSA – impacts on electricity and individual operations • Benefits • Reduced GHG • Opportunity for efficiency improvements • New jobs for the economy • Reduced costs over time
Practical Implications • Funding for on-site renewables, CHP, efficiency • Lower costs in the long run • Facility operations affected by: • increasing electricity costs • continuing efficiency payments • on-site GHG regulation (?) • Implementation of new laws – consumers united