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S 2287

Provides for a deduction from personal income for adoption expenses

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jamaal Bailey

Massachusetts removes woody biomass as an “alternative energy supply” for intermediate or large electric generators, ending eligibility for incentives unless already grandfathered

REFERRED TO BUDGET AND REVENUE
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Bill Summary · S 2287

Summary — S.2287 (Massachusetts): Limits eligibility of woody biomass as an “alternative energy supply”

Note on inconsistencies: the header metadata included an unrelated title about adoption expense deductions and a mixed set of sponsors/dates. This summary is based on the bill text provided, which amends Massachusetts General Laws (chapter 25A, section 11F1/2) and concerns woody biomass as an energy source.

Purpose

To remove statutory recognition of woody biomass fuel as an “alternative energy supply” for intermediate and large electric generation units, thereby ending its eligibility for treatment or incentives under the referenced alternative-energy provisions.

Key provisions

  • Amends section 11F1/2 of chapter 25A (Mass. Gen. Laws) by adding:
    • “For intermediate or large generation units, no woody biomass fuel shall be considered an alternative energy supply.”
  • Grandfathering clause: the change does not apply to any biomass facility that is already qualified by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) as an alternative energy unit under section 11F1/2 as of January 1, 2026.
  • Effective date: the act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Directly affected: intermediate and large electric generation units in Massachusetts that use woody biomass (wood chips, forest residues, etc.) as fuel and currently rely on being classified as “alternative energy” under section 11F1/2 to access incentives, regulatory treatment, or program eligibility.
  • Indirectly affected: biomass facility owners/operators, fuel suppliers, forestry contractors, investors in biomass projects, utilities, electricity ratepayers, and state energy and emissions accounting.
  • DOER: tasked implicitly with implementing the statutory change and administering the grandfathering determinations.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Bill filed in the Massachusetts Senate (docketed Jan 16, 2025) and was introduced/acted upon in mid-2025 (multiple committee referrals recorded; status listed as “REFERRED TO BUDGET AND REVENUE”).
  • Affected facilities are grandfathered if DOER had qualified them by Jan 1, 2026, so that date is a practical cut-off for qualification.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Policy impact: reduces statutory support for use of woody biomass in medium/large generators; may shift state incentives toward other renewable sources.
  • Economic: could diminish market demand for woody biomass, affect facility revenues, prompting fuel switching or closures for un-grandfathered units.
  • Environmental: proponents argue reduced support could limit carbon and air-quality concerns associated with large-scale biomass combustion; opponents may cite impacts on forest management and local jobs.
  • Fiscal/regulatory: the bill does not specify new appropriations; impacts on energy costs, renewable portfolio treatment, or compliance mechanisms depend on DOER implementation and related regulatory actions.

Uncertainties

  • The bill references “intermediate or large generation units” without defining capacity thresholds in the text; interpretation relies on existing statutory/regulatory definitions in chapter 25A or DOER rules.
  • The magnitude of economic and emissions effects would depend on how many facilities lose eligibility, availability of alternatives, and subsequent regulatory steps.

If you’d like, I can:
- Locate the statutory definitions for “intermediate” and “large” generation units in chapter 25A,
- Draft a one-page explainer on likely market and regulatory consequences, or
- Prepare a timeline mapping the bill’s legislative steps and likely next actions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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