Electric utilities; development of renewable energy facilities, etc.

Regulation of electric utilities; developmentof renewable energy facilities; powers of State Air Pollution ControlBoard; powers of State Corporation Commission. Repeals provisions(i) requiring the State Air Pollution Control Board to adopt regulationsto reduce carbon dioxide emissions from any electricity generatingunit in the Commonwealth and authorizing the Board to establish anauction program for energy allowances; (ii) prohibiting the StateCorporation Commission from approving any new utility-owned generation facilities that emit carbon dioxide as a by-product of energy generation,in certain circumstances; (iii) declaring that statutory allowancesfor energy derived from sunlight, onshore wind, offshore wind, andstorage facilities are in the public interest; and (iv) relatingto the development of solar and wind generation and energy storagecapacity, development of offshore wind capacity, and generation ofelectricity from renewable and zero carbon sources. The bill provides that planning and development activities for new nuclear generationfacilities are in the public interest.