Section 16-NEW - [Newly enacted section not yet numbered] Biomass power purchase agreements(a) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Existing biomass power purchase agreement" means a power purchase agreement that: (A)(i) was entered into by a biomass facility that is a Class I renewable energy source with an electric distribution company in the state on or before June 5, 2013, or (ii) was executed in accordance with a solicitation pursuant to section 16a-3f of the general statutes or 16a-3h of the general statutes; and (B) was in effect as of January 1, 2024.(2) "Eligible biomass facility" means a biomass facility that is a Class I renewable energy source and that has entered into one or more existing biomass power purchase agreements.(3) "Additional biomass power purchase agreement" means a biomass power purchase agreement that is entered into by an eligible biomass facility and an electric distribution company pursuant to subdivision (b) of this section, for the fraction of energy, capacity and environmental attributes of an eligible biomass facility that was contracted for under an existing biomass power purchase agreement between such biomass facility and such electric distribution company.(4) "Class I renewable energy source", "electric distribution company" and "electric supplier" have the same meanings as provided in section 16-1 of the general statutes.(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may direct any electric distribution company to enter into one or more additional biomass power purchase agreements with any eligible biomass facility. Any such additional power purchase agreement shall be for a period of ten years. Certificates issued by the New England Power Pool Generation Information System for any Class I renewable energy sources procured by an electric distribution company pursuant to this section may be: (1) Sold into the New England Power Pool Generation Information System renewable energy credit market to be used by any electric supplier or electric distribution company to meet the requirements of section 16-245a of the general statutes, provided the revenues from such sale are credited to all customers of the contracting electric distribution company; or (2) retained by such electric distribution company to meet the requirements of section 16-245a of the general statutes. In considering whether to sell or retain such certificates, the company shall select the option that is in the best interest of such company's ratepayers.(c) Any additional biomass power purchase agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be subject to review and approval by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Such electric distribution company shall file an application for the approval of any such additional biomass power purchase agreement with the authority. The authority shall issue a decision not later than one hundred eighty days after any such filing. If the authority does not issue a decision within one hundred eighty days after such filing, such additional biomass power purchase agreement shall be deemed approved.(d) The net costs of any such agreement, including costs incurred by the electric distribution companies under the agreement and reasonable costs incurred by any electric distribution company in connection with the agreement, shall be recovered through a fully reconciling component of electric rates for all customers of such electric distribution company.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-NEW
Added by P.A. 24-0038,S. 6 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2024 Regular Session, eff. 5/21/2024.