Massachusetts HD 5210: An Act establishing a special commission to study the potential risks to cities and towns from the onshore electrical infrastructure supporting offshore wind energy generation projects

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5210 FILED ON: 6/25/2024
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Steven George Xiarhos
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing a special commission to study the potential risks to cities and towns from the
onshore electrical infrastructure supporting offshore wind energy generation projects.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Steven George Xiarhos 5th Barnstable 6/25/2024

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5210 FILED ON: 6/25/2024
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Steven George
Xiarhos for legislation to establish a special commission to study the potential risks to cities and
towns from the onshore electrical infrastructure supporting offshore wind energy generation
projects. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act establishing a special commission to study the potential risks to cities and towns from the
onshore electrical infrastructure supporting offshore wind energy generation projects.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 SECTION ONE. (a) There is hereby established a special commission to study the
2 potential financial, environmental, public health, and public safety risks to cities and towns and
3 their residents from onshore electric infrastructure associated with offshore wind energy
4 generation projects as they land in and traverse communities of the Commonwealth. Said special
5 commission shall include within the scope of its study, without limitation: (1) potential risks
6 from the development, operation, and catastrophic failure of underground and above-ground
7 electric transmission lines, electric substations, and associated onshore electric infrastructure; (2)
8 potential risks of electromagnetic emissions, smoke and fire as the result of catastrophic events,
9 and the release of oil, hazardous materials, and any other pollutants into the soil, water, and air;
10 (3) potential hazards to public and private water supplies, and the sole source aquifer, from
11 onshore infrastructure supporting offshore wind power; (4) the need for legislation requiring the

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12 Commonwealth to indemnify cities and towns for their costs of responding to, and cleaning up
13 after, a catastrophic event relating to onshore infrastructure for offshore wind power, including
14 but not limited to fire and the release of oil and hazardous materials; (5) the implementation of
15 risk assessments and routine audits of electric substations supporting offshore wind-generated
16 power to ensure compliance with safety standards, including potential cybersecurity risks; (6) the
17 readiness of the Commonwealth to provide coordination across relevant state agencies in the
18 event of a catastrophic event relating to infrastructure to support offshore wind energy; and (6)
19 the need for facility-specific emergency response plans concerning onshore electric substations
20 and similar facilities supporting power generated by offshore wind energy.
21 (b) Said special commission shall consist of the following 15 members: the chairperson
22 of the Energy Facilities Siting Board or said chairperson’s designee; the chairperson of the
23 Department of Public Utilities or said chairperson’s designee; the commissioner of the
24 Department of Environmental Protection or said commissioner’s designee; the commissioner of
25 the Department of Energy Resources or said commissioner’s designee; the commissioner of the
26 Department of Public Health or such commissioner’s designee; the Executive Director of the
27 Massachusetts Municipal Association; three members to be appointed by the Governor (one of
28 whom shall have professional experience with the development of offshore wind energy
29 generation projects; one of whom shall be a member of the city council, select board or town
30 council of a city or town that has entered into a host community agreement with an offshore
31 wind energy generation project; and one of whom shall have substantial professional experience
32 in public safety matters); two members appointed by the President of the Senate; one member
33 appointed by the Minority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate; two members appointed by the
34 Speaker of the House of Representatives; and, one member appointed by the Minority Leader of

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35 the House of Representatives. All members of said commission shall be persons with substantial
36 knowledge or experience