On behalf of energy clients, Keegan Werlin is involved in all aspects of the electric distribution industry, assisting in regulatory matters in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island and other states in the region.  Today, participants in the energy market have both significant opportunities and historic challenges in planning and providing for the electricity needs of electric customers in the marketplace.  Familiarity with the regulatory framework is absolutely necessary to succeed in the region.

 

In the Commonwealth, the impetus for energy-industry change stems from a series of legislative actions taken by the Massachusetts legislature since 2008 to advance clean energy goals and to address climate change concerns through both mitigation and adaption.  In 2008, the Massachusetts legislature enacted Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2008, An Act Relative To Green Communities (“Green Communities Act”), and An Act Establishing the Global Warming Solutions Act, St. 2008 c. 298, § 7 (”GWSA”).  The Green Communities Act established an entirely new construct for energy efficiency program planning, paving the way for the aggressive expansion of demand resources (energy efficiency, demand response and renewable generation).  The GWSA put in place a comprehensive policy framework designed to result in marked reductions to greenhouse gas emissions on a designated timeline. 

 

Since the enactment of the Green Communities Act and the GWSA, the operating environment for the electric industry has experienced a profound transformation, evolving into a highly dynamic setting characterized by declining electric consumption on a per-customer basis, coupled with intensifying pressure for more reliable electric service, unbounded digital access and the widespread accommodation of distributed energy resources, among other factors.  In just the past few years, a shift in focus to future electrification has placed electric utilities at a crossroads where the ability to extract revenue from the system to cover necessary operating costs and capital investment has been declining, while the obligations and demands for performance to meet a range of stakeholder interests is rapidly expanding, anticipating a future with exponentially expanded reliance on the electric grid.

 

Many initiatives are underway to achieve the goals and objectives of the Green Communities Act and GWSA, by promoting the development of the electric-vehicle market and associated charging infrastructure; to expand the use of electric storage; and to enable DER interconnection, as examples.  The goals and objectives of the Green Communities Act/GWSA were affirmed by the Baker Administration’s Executive Order No. 569, Establishing an Integrated Climate Change Strategy for the Commonwealth (September 16, 2016) (“Executive Order No. 569”), setting directives for the reduction of greenhouse gases and preparation for the impacts of climate change.

 

On August 11, 2022, Governor Baker signed into law An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind, St. 2022, c. 179.  As with other legislative initiatives enacted since the Green Communities Act and GWSA in 2008, this far-reaching legislation provides a strong impetus for achievement of the Commonwealth’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through initiatives relating to offshore wind and solar power, battery storage, electric grid modernization and the electrification of the transportation and building sectors.