Massachusetts Legislature passes renewable energy compromise bill
By Shira Schoenberg, Mass Live.
BOSTON - The Massachusetts Legislature late Sunday night sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a compromise energy bill that, while less broad than some senators had hoped, would require the state to purchase significantly more energy from offshore wind and other renewable sources.
"I don't think that where we ended up is nearly as strong as where the Senate was," said State Sen. Ben Downing, D-Pittsfield, Senate chairman of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. "But both the administration and the House had a far narrower view, and that made for a rather difficult negotiation."
State Rep. Thomas Golden, D-Lowell, House chairman of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, praised the bill on the House floor. "Today is a celebration for the Massachusetts Legislature," Golden said. "We are poised with your vote today to pass and authorize the largest procurement of renewable energy in the history of the commonwealth of Massachusetts."