Mara Gorman

This Act requires any person or entity seeking to begin the business of using 30 megawatts (MW) of electricity or greater to first obtain a Certificate to Operate (“COP”) from the Public Service Commission. The Act also provides that any person or entity seeking to change an existing facility, that will increase the usage to 30MW or greater, triggers the provisions of this Act and must obtain a Certificate to Operate from the Public Service Commission. Section 203G(a) provides that Section 203G does not apply to public utilities engaged in business in their service territories.

Under Section 203G(c), the Commission must act upon a COP application within 90 days of submission of a completed application. For good cause shown, and if the Commission finds that the public interest would be served, the Commission may extend the date of its action on a COP application for an additional period not to exceed 90 days.  

Section 203G(d) lists the factors that the Commission must consider in determining whether to grant a COP, which include the impact of granting the COP on the State’s economy, the impacts to the State’s ratepayers, and whether the application is consistent with the achievement of the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, as specified in § 10003 of Title 7.

Section 203G(e) sets forth the circumstances under which the Commission may, for good cause, undertake to suspend or revoke a COP.

Section 203G(f) provides that Commission proceedings under the section involving a COP shall be conducted in accordance with subchapter III, Chapter 101 of Title 29.

Sections 203G(g) and (f) make provision for the State Energy Office and local governments with land use jurisdiction over the development plan to intervene in the Public Service Commission proceedings.

Section 203G(i) requires the written approval of the Commission to transfer a COP.  

Section 203G(j) provides that the Commission shall have the authority to promulgate regulations to fully define the requirements necessary for the implementation of section 203G.