Massachusetts HD 2778: An Act relative to prohibiting public utility and ratepayer funding of clearcutting forests and woodlands

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2778        FILED ON: 1/16/2025 
HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3568 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
_________________ 
PRESENTED BY: 
Aaron L. Saunders 
_________________ 
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 relative to prohibiting public utility and ratepayer funding of clearcutting forests and 
woodlands. 
_______________ 
PETITION OF: 
 
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED: 
Aaron L. Saunders 7th Hampden 1/16/2025 

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2778        FILED ON: 1/16/2025 
HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3568 
By Representative Saunders of Belchertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3568) 
of Aaron L. Saunders relative to prohibiting public utility and ratepayer funding of clearcutting 
forests and woodlands.  Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court 
(2025-2026) 
_______________
 
 
An Act relative to prohibiting public utility and ratepayer funding of clearcutting forests and 
woodlands. 
 
 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 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department 
2of energy resources and department of public utilities shall amend any rules, regulations, and 
3tariffs pursuant to section 11 of chapter 75 of the acts of 2016 or successor statute to prohibit 
4from qualification any solar facility, including any solar energy generating source, that (1) has 
5not received a statement of qualification, or similar official notice of approval, from the 
6department prior to January 1, 2025  and (2) is greater than or equal to nameplate capacity of 
7500kW if such facility meets any of the following criteria:  
8 (i)  is located within a parcel that includes priority habitat as delineated by the division of 
9fisheries and wildlife under chapter 131A  
10 (ii)  is located within an area of critical environmental concern as designated by the 
11secretary of energy and environmental affairs  

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12 (iii) is located within forest land as defined in section 2 of chapter 61 of the general laws  
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14 SECTION 2. A prohibition established in Section 1 shall not apply to facilities located 
15within a brownfield or within eligible landfills as determined by the commissioner of the 
16department of energy resources; nor shall such prohibition apply to building mounted facilities or 
17facilities sited upon previously developed land.