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H 3454

UCC

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Micah Caskey

The bill raises Massachusetts offshore wind capacity targets to 8,000 MW and accelerates contract timing, requiring ~5,600 MW secured by end of 2026.

Scrivener's error corrected
0
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Bill Summary · H 3454

Summary — H.3454 (House) — "An Act relative to offshore wind"

Purpose / Intent

H.3454 amends Massachusetts law governing offshore wind procurement to (1) raise an aggregate nameplate capacity figure in existing statute and (2) modify several timing and contract-related provisions. The bill updates subsection (b) of section 83C of chapter 169 of the Acts of 2008 (as subsequently amended), which governs distribution-company contracts and procurement of offshore wind generation.

Key provisions (text-level changes)

  • Replaces the numeric figure “5,600” with “8,000” in subsection (b) of section 83C — changing the statutory capacity figure referenced in that provision from 5,600 MW to 8,000 MW (nameplate capacity).
  • Replaces the date “June 30, 2027” with: “March 31, 2027; provided, however, that said distribution companies enter into cost effective long-term contracts for offshore wind energy generation equal to approximately 5,600 megawatts of aggregate nameplate capacity not later than December 31, 2026.”
    • This creates an earlier March 31, 2027 statutory date while conditioning it on distribution companies having executed contracts for ~5,600 MW by 12/31/2026.
  • Removes the parenthetical phrase “, if applicable,” from the same subsection.
  • Shortens a period referenced in the subsection from “24 months” to “18 months.” (The bill text makes this substitution but does not recite the surrounding clause—this change accelerates whatever 24‑month timing is governed by the subsection to 18 months.)

Who is affected

  • Electric distribution companies operating in Massachusetts (contracting and procurement obligations).
  • Offshore wind developers and prospective contractors (procurement targets and contract deadlines).
  • State energy regulators and agencies responsible for implementation and oversight (statutory language in section 83C).
  • Consumers/ratepayers may be indirectly affected because procurement targets, contract timing, and contract terms can affect long-term costs, though the bill text itself focuses on statutory targets/timelines rather than rate mechanisms.

Timeline / procedural aspects

  • Introduced (prefiled): 2024-12-05; introduced and read first time: 2025-01-14.
  • Referred to Committee on Judiciary (initially) and on 2025-02-27 referred to Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. Senate concurred 2025-02-27.
  • Scrivener’s error corrected: 2025-02-05.
  • Hearing scheduled: 07/29/2025 (1:00–5:00 PM, A‑1). Reporting date extended to 12/03/2025.
  • Related bill: HD 3190 (replaces).

Context / notes

  • The bill specifically amends subsection (b) of section 83C of the Acts of 2008 as previously amended by later acts (including chapters cited from 2016, 2022, and 2024).
  • The statutory changes increase the reference capacity from 5,600 MW to 8,000 MW and accelerate some deadlines while adding an explicit requirement that distribution companies secure approximately 5,600 MW of long‑term, cost‑effective offshore wind contracts by 12/31/2026.
  • The legislative file provided also contains large, unrelated draft language concerning Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) revisions for another jurisdiction (South Carolina). That UCC material appears extraneous to the Massachusetts H.3454 offshore wind amendments and is not reflected in the short statutory amendments quoted above.

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

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