Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

CleanTechnica

Clean Power

Massachusetts Considering Net Metering For Small Hydropower Projects Over 60 kW

Massachusetts is currently considering extending its net-metering qualification guidelines to include small hydroelectric projects over 60 kW in capacity, in addition to those under 60 kW — which would put hydroelectric on level ground with solar energy, wind energy, and anaerobic digestion systems in the state.

As it stands now, solar, wind, and anaerobic digestion systems up to 2 MW in size are currently eligible for net metering (and up to 10 MW in size are eligible in cases of specific public facilities). So, allowing small hydro plants up to 2 MW in size to benefit from net metering would really just level the playing field some.

The potential change was publicly put out there via a recent notice issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities informing the public of a technical conference to study proposed net electricity metering by small hydroelectric projects. This conference was held on November 7, with comments set to be filed by December 5.

micro hydro Massachusetts net metering


 

Renewable Energy World provides more details:

Net metering allows customers to receive credits for any electricity they generate but do not use. Facilities up to 2 MW, or 10 MW in cases of certain public facilities, are eligible for net metering if they generate electricity with wind, solar photovoltaics or anaerobic digestion, or if they are Agricultural New Metering Facilities. Under current rules, hydroelectric facilities that are larger than 60 kW and are not ANMFs are not eligible for net metering.

Legislation signed in August by Governor Deval Patrick directs the DPU, in consultation with the Bay State Hydropower Association, to study the feasibility, impacts and benefits of allowing electric distribution company customers to net meter electricity generated by small hydroelectric facilities. The agency is to report its findings to the Legislature.

Owing to this, the DPU issued notice on October 16th of the scheduling of a technical conference at 10am November 7 at DPU offices at 1 South Station in Boston. The notice also noted that written comments had to be filed by 5pm, Eastern time, on December 5 — addressed to Mark Marini, Secretary, Department of Public Utilities, 1 South Station, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, or by e-mail attachment to dpu.efiling@state.ma.us and to the hearing officer at mike.wallerstein@state.ma.us.

The DPU’s request was for comments addressing how to define what exactly “small hydro” is; under which conditions to allow hydro faculties to receive net-metering; and “how much hydropower capacity might be added if small facilities were eligible for net metering.”

Related:

New Microhydro Book is THE Microhydro Book

Water Power: Out with the New, In with the Old

Living Off-Grid: Our Micro Hydro Alternative Energy System

Dispatch from Pakistan: Micro Hydro Power Improves Local Communities

Micro Hydro Essentials

Microhydropower Systems

Go Microhydro (Going Green Tip #10)

Image Credit: Micro hydro diagram by Practical Action

 
I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps — gasp — grow. So ...
If you like what we do and want to support us, please chip in a bit monthly via PayPal or Patreon to help our team do what we do! Thank you!
Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!
 

Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
 

Written By

James Ayre's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy.

Comments

You May Also Like

Batteries

Hawaii is struggling to convert to renewable energy and has created an innovative residential battery storage sharing program to help make that happen.

Batteries

In a recent article, we shared the developing story of attacks on net metering policies around the United States, even in solar-friendly states. While...

Clean Power

There is a threat to clean energy that’s proliferating around the United States. In articles like this one, we’ve covered the story of several...

Clean Power

Georgia Public Service Commission votes unanimously to establish clean energy working group, but rejects expansion of popular rooftop solar program

Copyright © 2023 CleanTechnica. The content produced by this site is for entertainment purposes only. Opinions and comments published on this site may not be sanctioned by and do not necessarily represent the views of CleanTechnica, its owners, sponsors, affiliates, or subsidiaries.

Advertisement