Descripción

In July 2008, Governor Patrick signed a major energy reform bill, the Green Communities Act (S.B. 2768). As part of that legislation, Massachusetts created the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (APS), which requires meeting 5% of the state’s electric load with "alternative energy" by 2020, according to the following schedule:

• 1.00% by 2009
• 1.50% by 2010
• 2.00% by 2011
• 2.50% by 2012
• 3.00% by 2013
• 3.50% by 2014
• 3.75% by 2015
• 4.00% by 2016
• 4.25% by 2017
• 4.50% by 2018
• 4.75% by 2019
• 5.00% by 2020

The “alternative energy generating sources” include combined heat and power (CHP) projects, flywheel energy storage, energy efficient steam technology. and renewable technologies that generate useful thermal energy. These projects must be new (start date after January 1, 2008) and must receive a statement of qualification from the Department of Energy Resources to qualify.

From 2009 to 2014, ~99% of compliance was met using efficient CHP technologies.