Massachusetts S 2316: An Act defining "Gold Star families"

Bill Text

1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2412 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2316

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Jacob R. Oliveira
_________________
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 resilient electric vehicle charging system pilot program and river
restoration fund and veterans and emergency responders’ fund.
_______________
PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS:
Jacob R. Oliveira Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester
Todd M. Smola 1st Hampden
Peter J. Durant Worcester and Hampshire 6/20/2025

1 of 8
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2412 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2316
By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2316) of Jacob R. Oliveira and
Todd M. Smola for legislation to establish a resilient electric vehicle charging system pilot
program and river restoration fund and veterans and emergency responders’ fund.
Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________

An Act establishing a resilient electric vehicle charging system pilot program and river
restoration fund and veterans and emergency responders’ fund.

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. Definitions
2 For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to
3 them:
4 1. "Resilient Hydroelectric Power Generation" means generating stations that:
5 a. Are manufactured, installed, and operated in accordance with applicable government
6 and industry standards;
7 b. Are connected to the electric grid and operated in conjunction with an electric
8 company's transmission and distribution system during normal operation of the electrical grid;
9 c. Operate in compliance with standards and requirements established under this Act;

2 of 8
10 d. Utilize a synchronous generator with black start capability, frequency control, and
11 disconnect capability;
12 e. Do not include the active use of fossil fuels;
13 f. Have a nameplate capacity of 2.0 megawatts or less;
14 g. Do not involve any dam or water diversion structure constructed after December 31,
15 1997; and
16 h. Must demonstrate compliance with meeting appropriate and site-specific standards that
17 address adequate and healthy river flows, water quality standards, fish passage, and protection
18 measures, mitigation, and enhancement opportunities in the impacted watershed by obtaining
19 and maintaining a current Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) certification, provided that:
20 i. If the generating station is not LIHI certified prior to its participation in the Resilient
21 Electric Vehicle Charging System Pilot Program (the Program), it will submit an application for
22 certification within 3 years from the date of being enrolled in the Program and its ongoing
23 participation in the Program will be contingent on successfully obtaining and maintaining a LIHI
24 certification, including completing any certification conditions in the time prescribed.
25 2. "Resilient Electric Vehicle Charging System" means an electric vehicle (EV)
26 microgrid designed to provide uninterrupted electric service for EV charging throughout an
27 extended outage.
28 3. "Extended Outage" means an outage of the electric distribution system that
29 continues for a period of 24 hours or longer.

3 of 8
30 4. "Uninterrupted" means that the Resilient Electric Vehicle Charging System
31 generates electricity throughout an extended outage, except for momentary interruptions
32 associated with transitions to and from grid-parallel and grid-islanded operations.
33 5. "EV Microgrid" is a group of energy-generating resources with at least one source
34 of Resilient Hydroelectric Power Generation and energy storage within clearly defined electrical
35 boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid for the purpose of EV
36 charging and supporting emergency response needs during an extended outage. An EV microgrid
37 can connect and disconnect from the grid to operate in both grid-connected or island-mode.
38 6. “Charging Revenue” shall constitute all onsite energy sales from EV charging
39 from a Resilient Electric Vehicle Charging System.
40 7. “Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI)” is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
41 whose stated purpose is to reduce the impacts of hydropower generation through the certification
42 of hydropower projects that have avoided or reduced their environmental impacts pursuant to the
43 Low Impact Hydropower Institute's criteria.
44 SECTION 2. Establishment of the Resilient Electric Vehicle Charging System Pilot
45 Progra