225 CMR 25.00 — Participation in the Green Communities Program for municipalities served by municipal light plants

225 CMR: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESOURCES 225 CMR 25.00: PARTICIPATION IN THE GREEN COMMUNITIES PROGRAM FOR MUNICIPALITIES SERVED BY MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANTS Sections: 25.01: Purpose 25.02: Definitions 25.03: Administration 25.04: Applicability 25.05: Municipalities Joining the Green Communities Program

225 CMR 25.00 Participation in the Green Communities Program for municipalities served by municipal light plants

25.01 Purpose

25.01: Purpose The purpose of 225 CMR 25.00 is to establish the process for communities that receive electric distribution service from municipal light plants to become eligible to become designated as a Green Community and participate in the Department's Green Communities Designation and Grant Program.

25.02 Definitions

25.02: Definitions Department. The Department of Energy Resources. Distribution Company . A company engaging in the distribution of electricity or owning, operating or controlling distribution facilities as defined in M.G.L. c. 164, § 1. Distribution Service. The delivery of electricity to customers as defined in M.G.L. c. 164, § 1. Green Community. A municipality designated as a Green Community pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25A, § 10. Green Communities Program. The Green Communities Designation and Grant Program implemented pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25A, § 10. Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund. The fund established pursuant to M.G.L. c. 23J, § 9. Municipal Light Plant. A municipal lighting plant established pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. c. 164. Service Territory. The geographic area in which a distribution company provides distribution service. Trust Administrator . The entity that administers the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund.

25.03 Administration

25.03: Administration 225 CMR 25.00 shall be administered by the Department.

25.04 Applicability

25.04: Applicability 225 CMR 25.00 shall apply to all municipalities with at least one property that receives electric distribution service from a municipal light plant.

25.05 Municipalities Joining the Green Communities Program

25.05: Municipalities Joining the Green Communities Program (1) Municipalities that receive electric distribution service from a municipal light plant with a service territory limited to one municipality and where there are no investor-owned electric distribution company customers, may join the Green Communities Program under 225 CMR 25.05(1) if the municipal light plant that provides electric distribution service to the municipality has adopted the renewable energy charge pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25, § 20(b). The Department will accept the following documentation to demonstrate that the requirement has been met: 3/29/24 225 CMR - 265 (Mass. Register #1518, 3/29/2024)

225 CMR: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESOURCES

25.05 continued

25.05: continued A signed copy of an agreement between the trust administrator, the municipality, and the municipal light plant that provides electric distribution service to the municipality defining the terms of the municipal light plant's contributions to the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund. (2) Municipalities that receive electric distribution service from a municipal light plant with a service territory limited to one municipality and where there is at least one investor-owned electric distribution company customer may join the Green Communities Program under 225 CMR 25.05(2) by either of the following methods: (a) Providing proof that the investor-owned electric distribution company customer in the municipality pays into the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund. The Department will accept the following documentation to demonstrate that the above requirement has been met:

1. a letter from the investor-owned electric distribution company verifying that they provide electric distribution service to the property; and
2. property card(s) or other information from the municipality demonstrating that the customer's property is located in the municipality. (b) Providing proof that the municipal light plant has adopted the renewable energy charge pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25, § 20(b). The Department will accept the following documentation to demonstrate that the above requirement has been met: a signed copy of an agreement between the trust administrator, the municipality, and the municipal light plant that provides electric distribution service to the municipality defining the terms of the municipal light plant's contributions to the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund. (3) Municipalities that receive electric distribution service from a municipal light plant with a service territory that covers more than one municipality and where there are no investor-owned electric distribution company customers, may join the Green Communities Program under 225 CMR 25.05(3) by any of the following methods: (a) Providing proof that the municipal light plant has adopted the renewable energy charge pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25, § 20(b); or (b) Providing proof that the municipality has adopted the renewable energy charge pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25, § 20(c). The Department will accept the following documentation to demonstrate that the requirement has been met: a signed copy of an agreement between the trust administrator, the municipality, and or the municipal light plant that provides electric distribution service to the municipality defining the terms of the municipal light plant's contributions to the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund. (4) Municipalities that receive electric distribution service from a municipal light plant with a service territory that covers more than one municipality and where there is at least one investor-owned electric distribution company customer, may join the Green Communities Program under 225 CMR 25.05(4) by any of the following methods: (a) Providing proof that the municipal light plant has adopted the renewable energy charge pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25, § 20(b); or (b) Providing proof that the municipality has adopted the renewable energy charge pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25, § 20(c). The Department will accept the following documentation to demonstrate that the above requirement has been met: a signed copy of an agreement between the trust administrator, the municipality, and the municipal light plant that provides electric distribution service to the municipality defining the terms of the municipal light plant's contributions to the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund. (c) Providing proof that the investor-owned electric distribution company customer pays into the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund. The following documentation is required to prove this requirement has been met:
3. a letter from the investor-owned electric distribution company verifying that they provide electric service to the property; and
4. property card(s) or other information from the municipality demonstrating that the customer's property is located in the municipality. REGULATORY AUTHORITY: 225 CMR 25.00: M.G.L. c. 25A, § 10. (PAGES 267 THROUGH 280 ARE RESERVED FOR FUTURE USE.) 3/29/24 225 CMR - 266