Governors from six New England states have agreed to release a request for proposals (RFP) next year for a large amount of solar and other sources of renewable energy.
Gov. Deval Patrick, D-Mass., proposed the resolution calling for the RFP at the New England Governors' Conference. The measure passed unanimously and will advance the process toward a coordinated regional procurement of renewable energy.
Taking advantage of economies of scale and market power, a competitive, coordinated, regional procurement of renewable energy will help New England develop its vast homegrown renewable energy resource more cost-effectively, enhance energy supply diversity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stimulate economic development, according to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
This resolution charges the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE) with developing and implementing a work plan on behalf of the New England governors that will result in the release of an RFP for renewable energy in 2013. NESCOE will convene a procurement team of the top energy officials and other representatives from each state that will finalize the details of the competitive, coordinated, regional procurement over the course of the next year.
Meanwhile, within Massachusetts, Patrick has set goals for renewable energy that include 250 MW of installed solar power by 2017. The commonwealth's Green Communities Act, a comprehensive energy reform bill, accelerated the increase of renewable energy required of all electricity suppliers, rising from 4% of sales to 15% by 2020, and set a goal of 20% of all electricity coming from renewables by that time.
