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2-23 State House News Service
2-23 State House News Service
2-23 State House News Service
"I think it's an interesting observation, because obviously any large scale projects that you
do on the renewable side, if one state does try to take it on and it's above market, it has a
significant impact on customers," Gerwatowski said.
Baker has expressed interest in a regional approach to energy policy, and on Wednesday,
the administration announced that the Bay State is joining with Connecticut and Rhode
Island and electric distribution companies and issuing a request for proposals for new
clean energy resources. State agencies will also start to examine opportunities for new
natural gas contracts.
The regional approach was hailed by energy policy groups and stakeholders. "We see it as
a real opportunity to have states coordinating together to take advantage of clean energy
resources," said Janet Gail Besser, vice president of policy and government affairs at the
New England Clean Energy Council.
A group dubbed the Green Line Infrastructure Alliance -- which includes National Grid
and Anbaric, a transmission project developer -- said the move will help "update and
modernize transmission lines that will unlock New England's abundant supply of clean
energy."
In its own statement, Eversource said, "Clearly, we're in need of new infrastructure to
improve reliability and reduce costs. That's why we have partnered with other leading
energy companies on several different solutions that will unlock clean energy resources,
such as Canadian Hydro and northern wind power, and increase the capacity of existing
natural gas pipelines to achieve a balanced approach."
As for Haddad's legislation, Gerwatowski, the assistant secretary, said, "We will have a
view on that. At this point, we have to have discussions on this before we're making any
pronouncements about which path is the right one to go down."
Haddad said the bill filed by Gov. Deval Patrick that surfaced last year was heavily
weighted towards Canadian hydropower, and offshore wind in Massachusetts presents
opportunities for local jobs.
"The important thing is businesses are talking about it, ordinary ratepayers are talking
about the costs of power," she said. "I think that will push the envelope."
Cape Wind appears to be "struggling," she said, despite Gordon pouring "heart and soul
and money into it."
"I feel very badly that Jim Gordon wasn't able to get his project funded or ready to go,"
she said. "It's location, location, location."
Morrissey, the coalition official, called Cape Wind a "pioneering project" and said it was
"hard to say" if it's done.
Three companies, aside from Cape Wind, are now operating in competitive offshore wind
lease areas off the Massachusetts coast, "where people can't see them," Morrissey said.
"Cape Wind has helped the Commonwealth get to this place," he said.