DISTRIBUTION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS RENEWABLE ENERGY TRUST FUND IN THE REALM OF MUNICIPAL POLITICS

摘要

As part of the state's restructuring and deregulation of the electric power industry, Massachusetts established the Renewable Energy Trust Fund (RETF) which earmarked approximately $50 million, collected as a surcharge on consumer electric utility bills, for distribution to municipalities that faced significant increased costs of MSW disposal because of required clean air retrofits to their Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facilities. The focus of this discussion will be upon the process, logistics and issues that evolved as that statutory benefit was implemented, including conflicts that led to the need for using a dispute resolution mechanism. Also included will be summary of issues that other states may want to address if considering similar provisions, in order to avoid some of the conflicts that arose during the Massachusetts process. For details on the Massachusetts program, see my paper presented last year at NAWTEC VIII, titled: Case Study - Electric Utility Restructuring - Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund.