CESA Clean Energy White Paper: MA Draft Final Regulations for Biomass Generating Units in the RPS

On April 27, 2012, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) released proposed final regulations for biomass combustion for purposes of RPS eligibility. This paper summarizes those regulations and includes a brief discussion.

Massachusetts DOER will require several thresholds to be met by biomass-fired generating units in the RPS. Chief among these are separate performance requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and for overall plant energy efficiency. DOER has also established requirements for fuel tracking and carbon accounting, and has issued fuel harvesting guidelines.