An energy bill seeking to steer 2,400 megawatts of wind and hydro energy into Massachusetts began moving through the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday afternoon ahead of a planned floor vote Wednesday.
The legislation addresses one of the key challenges affecting the state and region as the shuttering of New England nuclear and coal plants creates hurdles and opportunities for meeting the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. It calls for the competitive procurement of 1,200 megawatts each of offshore wind and hydroelectric power.
The Ways and Means bill is “substantively” the same as a version that emerged from the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, according to the committee.
That earlier version was cheered by the offshore wind industry, while it failed to win over Sen. Benjamin Downing, co-chairman of the committee, who said, “I think it’s by no means complete or comprehensive.”
Sending the poll out just after 5 p.m. Monday, the Ways and Means Committee gave members until Tuesday at 10 a.m. to vote on the new version (H 4336), which is scheduled for debate in the House on Wednesday.
“This is a piece of legislation wherein we expect there’ll be a number of amendments, so possibly what you will see coming out will be a little bit different than what you see coming in,” House Speaker Robert DeLeo told reporters on Monday after meeting with Gov. Charlie Baker and Senate President Stan Rosenberg. He said the competition the bill seeks to spur would result in “better prices.”
