225 C.M.R. 28.02
Alternative On-bill Credit. A credit generated by an Alternative On-bill Credit Generation Unit.
Alternative On-bill Credit Generation Unit. An STGU that is enrolled under a tariff establishing a bill credit for generation from STGUs that is approved by the DPU, but is not a tariff approved pursuant to 220 CMR 8.00: Sales of Electricity by Qualifying Facilities and On-site Generating Facilities to Distribution Companies, and Sales of Electricity by Distribution Companies to Qualifying Facilities and On-site Generating Facilities or 220 CMR 18.00: Net Metering.
Annual Capacity Block. A quantity of STGU capacity, determined pursuant to 225 CMR 28.05(1), that is entitled to be qualified under 225 CMR 28.00 in a given Program Year.
Annual SMART Program Assessment, The annual assessment of the SMART program conducted pursuant to 225 CMR 28.05(1).
Applicant. The Owner or Authorized Agent of a solar photovoltaic Generation Unit who has submitted a Statement of Qualification Application.
Authorized Agent. A person or entity that acts on behalf of the Owner of an STGU through a formal agreement for all dealings with the Department.
Base Compensation Rate. The portion of an STGU's compensation rate related to the Generation Unit's rated alternating current capacity, prescribed in 225 CMR 28.13(2).
Behind-the-meter STGU. An STGU that serves On-site Load other than parasitic or station load utilized to operate the Generation Unit and that receives compensation under 220 CMR 8.00: Sales of Electricity by Qualifying Facilities and On-site Generating Facilities to Distribution Companies, and Sales of Electricity by Distribution Companies to Qualifying Facilities and On-site Generating Facilities or 220 CMR 18.00: Net Metering, or under the SMART Tariff.
Bill Credits. Net Metering Credits or Alternative On-Bill Credits.
Brownfield. A disposal site that has received a release tracking number from MassDEP pursuant to 310 CMR 40.0000: Massachusetts Contingency Plan, the redevelopment or reuse of which is hindered by the presence of oil or hazardous materials, as determined by the Department, in consultation with MassDEP. For the purposes of 225 CMR 28.02: Brownfield, the terms "disposal site," "release tracking number," "oil," and "hazardous materials" shall have the meanings given to such terms in 310 CMR 40.0006: Terminology, Definitions and Acronyms. No disposal site that otherwise meets the requirements of 225 CMR 28.02 shall be excluded from consideration as a Brownfield because its cleanup is also regulated by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 through 9675, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6921 through 6939g, or any other federal program.
Building Mounted STGU. An STGU with 100% of the nameplate capacity of the solar photovoltaic modules used for generating power installed on a building.
Business Day. Means Monday through Friday, exclusive of state and federal legal holidays.
Canopy STGU. An STGU with not less than 100% of the nameplate capacity of the solar photovoltaic modules used for generating power installed on a raised structure in a manner that complies with the requirements of 225 CMR 28.07(5)(b)2.
Commercial Operation Date. The date on which a Distribution Company grants approval for an STGU to interconnect with the electric grid.
Community Shared STGU. An STGU that provides electricity or Bill Credits to three or more Customers of Record and meets the eligibility requirements of 225 CMR 28.07(5)(c)1.
Comparable Crops. Crops which by their production, harvesting, on-farm usage, processing, marketing, and other factors are comparable in agricultural practice, equipment requirements, economic value, environmental impact, and other factors to the crops previously grown on the site or previously grown by the proposed operator.
Compensation Rate Adder. An adder to an STGU's Base Compensation Rate established pursuant to 225 CMR 28.13(3).
Core Habitat. Key areas that are critical for the long-term persistence of rare species and other species of conservation concern, as well as a wide diversity of natural communities and intact ecosystems across the Commonwealth, as identified by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife BioMap framework within the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
Critical Natural Landscape. Areas including large natural landscape blocks and buffering uplands around coastal, wetland and aquatic Core Habitats to help ensure their long-term integrity, as identified by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife BioMap framework within the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
Customer of Record. An eligible customer with the Distribution Company whose name appears on a Distribution Company billing account of a meter connected to or receiving Bill Credits from an STGU.
Department. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, established by M.G.L. c. 25A.
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; provided, however, a Distribution Company shall not include a municipal utility established pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L c. 164.
DPU. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities established by M.G.L. c. 25, § 1.
Dual-use Agricultural STGU. An STGU located on Land in Agricultural Use or Important Agricultural Farmland that allows the continued use of the land for agriculture and meets the eligibility requirements of 225 CMR 28.07(5)(b)3.
Eligible Landfill. A landfill that has received an approval from MassDEP for the use of a solar photovoltaic Generation Unit at the landfill as a post-closure use pursuant to 310 CMR 19.143: Post-closure Use of Landfills.
End-use Customer. A person or entity in Massachusetts that purchases electrical energy from a Distribution Company.
Energy Storage System. A commercially available technology that is capable of absorbing energy, storing it for a period of time, and thereafter dispatching the energy.
Environmental Attribute. All GIS Certificates and any other environmental benefits associated with the energy generation of an STGU.
Environmental Monitor. An entity retained by the Department, under 225 CMR 28.08(6), to ensure compliance with Performance Standards under 225 CMR 28.08(7).
Fallow Farmland. Open arable land that has not been cultivated or used in agriculture for a period of one to five years preceding the Pre-Determination Application for a Dual-use Agricultural STGU.
Federal Low Income Requirements. For metropolitan areas, individuals and households with incomes at or below the greater of:
(c) For non-metropolitan areas, individuals and households with incomes at or below the greater of:
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund's Investment Area Eligibility dataset.
Federally Designated Environmental Justice Area. ommunities defined as disadvantaged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and Solar for All program, including:
Final Statement of Qualification. A document issued by the Department that qualifies an STGU under 225 CMR 28.00 and authorizes the start of the STGU's tariff term and issuance of incentive payments.
Flat Incentive Rate. The compensation rate assigned to STGUs less than or equal to 25 kW, set pursuant to 225 CMR 28.05(7).
Floating STGU. An STGU located on a body of water that is currently, or was formerly, used for water treatment, agricultural or industrial activities, that allows for the continued use of the water body for its intended purpose and meets the eligibility requirements of 225 CMR 28.07(5)(b)4.
Generation Attribute. Means a Generation Attribute, as defined in 225 CMR 14.02: Definitions.
Generation Unit. Means a Generation Unit, as defined in 225 CMR 14.02: Definitions.
GIS Certificate. An electronic record produced by the NEPOOL GIS that identifies Generation Attributes of each MWh accounted for in the NEPOOL GIS.
Growing Season Hours. For April through September, 9:00 A.M. through 6:00 P.M. For March and October, 10:00 A.M. through 5:00 P.M.
Guideline. A set of clarifications, interpretations, and procedures, including forms, developed by the Department to assist in compliance with the requirements of 225 CMR 28.00, The Department may issue new or revised Guidelines after providing notice and a minimum of 21-day public comment period on a draft version. Each Guideline shall be effective on its date of issuance or on such date as is specified therein, except as otherwise provided in 225 CMR 28.00.
Important Agricultural Farmlands. Means those soils found to be Important Farmlands pursuant to 7 C.F.R. § 657.5, that includes prime farmlands, unique farmlands, and additional land of statewide importance.
Incentive Payment Effective Date. As defined in the SMART Tariff, means the earliest date on or after the Commercial Operation Date on which electrical energy output of an STGU can result in the creation of RPS Class I Renewable Generation Attributes and is also eligible to begin receiving incentive payments.
Independent Verifier. An entity approved by the Department to perform the function of a third-party meter reader as defined in Rule 2.5(j) of the NEPOOL GIS Operating Rules, or any successor rule.
Interconnection Service Agreement. The agreement for interconnection service entered into between the interconnecting customer and a Distribution Company, as defined and provided in each Distribution Company's standards for interconnection of distributed generation.
Interconnection Service Agreement Application Date. The date a Distribution Company deems an Applicant or Authorized Agent's application for an Interconnection Service Agreement complete.
ISO-NE. ISO New England Inc., the independent system operator for New England, the regional transmission organization for most of New England, which is authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to exercise for the New England Control Area the functions required pursuant to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Order No. 2000.
Kilowatt (kW). A unit of power equal to one thousand watts, as measured in alternating current (AC).
Kilowatt-hour (kWh). A unit of electrical energy or work equivalent to one thousand watts of power operating for one hour.
Land in Agricultural Use. All land as defined under M.G.L. c. 61A, §§ 1 and 2, and land that had been enrolled in a program established pursuant to M.G.L. c. 61A within the past five years.
Large Building Mounted STGU. An STGU greater than or equal to 900 kW where 100% of the nameplate capacity of the solar photovoltaic modules used for generating power are installed on a building.
Low Income Customer, An End-use Customer that:
Low Income Eligible Area. A neighborhood, as identified through American Community Survey data, that has household income equal to or less than 65% of the statewide median income for Massachusetts or a Federally Designated Environmental Justice Area.
Low Income Property. One of the following properties:
Low Income Property STGU. An STGU greater than 25 kW that provides all of its generation output in the form of electricity or Bill Credits to a Low Income Property and meets the eligibility requirements of 225 CMR 28.07(5)(c)3.
Low Income STGU. An STGU less than or equal to 25 kW that serves Low Income Customers or allocates 100 % of its energy output to a Low Income Property in the form of electricity or Bill Credits and meets the eligibility requirements of 225 CMR 28.07(5)(c)2.
MassDEP. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection established by M.G.L. c. 21A, § 7.
MassDFG. The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game.
MDAR. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources established by M.G.L. c. 20, § 1.
Mechanical Completion. A state of project completion achieved when interconnection depends only upon receipt of notice of authorization to interconnect from the Distribution Company.
Megawatt (MW). A unit of power equal to one million watts, as measured in alternating current (AC).
Megawatt-hour (Mwh). A unit of electrical energy or work equivalent to one million watts of power operating for one hour.
Mitigation Fee. A fee assessed to an STGU pursuant to the Department's Mitigation Fee framework under 225 CMR 28.09.
Municipality. A city or town in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that has been issued a public identification number by the DPU pursuant to 220 CMR 18.00: Net Metering.
NEPOOL GIS. The New England Power Pool Generation Information System, which includes a generation information database and certificate system, operated by the New England Power Pool, its designee or successor entity, that accounts for Generation Attributes of electrical energy consumed and generated within, imported into, or exported from the ISO-NE Control Area.
Net Metered Generation Unit. An STGU that is also enrolled and compensated as a Class I Net Metering Facility, Class II Net Metering Facility, or Class III Net Metering Facility, as defined under 220 CMR 18.02: Definitions.
Net Metering Credit. A Net Metering Credit as defined under 220 CMR 18.02: Definitions.
Newly Created Farmland. Land that an Applicant has demonstrated the viability of agricultural production on pursuant to 225 CMR 28.07(5)(b)3.c.i.
Non-net Metered Generation Unit. An STGU that is also enrolled and compensated as a State Qualifying Facility under 225 CMR 8.00: Sales of Electricity by Qualifying Facilities and On-site Generating Facilities to Distribution Companies, and Sales of Electricity by Distribution Companies to Qualifying Facilities and On-site Generating Facilities.
On-site Load. Any new or existing electric load located at the site of an STGU including any parasitic load that may result from the installation of the STGU, and that is wired to receive a portion of the electrical energy output from the STGU before the balance of such output passes through the STGU's metered interconnection onto the electric grid.
Other Governmental Entity. A department or agency of the Commonwealth, and any other governmental entity that has been issued a public identification number by the DPU pursuant to 220 CMR 18.00: Net Metering.
Owner. Any person or entity that, alone or in conjunction with others, has legal ownership of an STGU.
PFAS. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of synthetic chemicals that contain fluorinated carbon atoms, are used in consumer and industrial products, are highly resistant to breakdown, and accumulate in soil and water as environmental pollutants.
Power Conversion Technology. The design, process, and equipment by which an energy resource is converted into useful energy
Pre-determination Application. A request submitted to the Department for the purpose of obtaining a preliminary determination of eligibility for a Compensation Rate Adder.
Pre-determination Letter. A determination by the Department that a project likely satisfies the eligibility requirements for a Compensation Rate Adder. Such determination is contingent upon the project demonstrating compliance with all eligibility criteria pursuant to 225 CMR 28.00 at the time of receiving a Final Statement of Qualification.
Preliminary Statement of Qualification. A document issued by the Department that qualifies an STGU under 225 CMR 28.00. Such qualification is contingent upon the STGU reaching Mechanical Completion within its Reservation Period and receiving a Final Statement of Qualification.
Previously Developed. Areas degraded by impervious surfaces from existing structures or pavement, absence of topsoil, junkyards, golf courses, managed turfgrass, abandoned dumping yards, or other degraded areas as determined by the Department.
Primary Installer. The primary entity responsible for an STGU's installation. The Primary Installer shall be a professional contractor licensed to conduct business in Massachusetts. Any electrical work performed on the installation shall be conducted by an electrician holding a valid and current license in Massachusetts. The Primary Installer is directly responsible for turnkey project management and installation work, although the installation work may be sub-contracted. Homeowners or other individuals are not eligible to be a Primary Installer unless they are a Massachusetts licensed electrician completing an installation on their own property.
Priority Habitat. Priority Habitat as defined in 321 CMR 10.02: Definitions.
Program Year. The period of January 1st to December 31st associated with a given Annual Capacity Block and associated set of compensation rates established pursuant to 225 CMR 28.05(1).
Project Footprint. The acreage of land encompassed by an STGU's solar photovoltaic modules, plus any land significantly impacted by construction of the STGU, including, but not limited to, land altered of its natural vegetative composition and structure for clearing, grading, and roadways.
Public Entity STGU. An STGU greater than 25 kW that provides all of its generation output in the form of electricity or Bill Credits to a Municipality or Other Governmental entity and meets the eligibility requirements of 225 CMR 28.07(5)(c)4.
Raised Racking STGU. An STGU with 100% of the nameplate capacity of the solar photovoltaic modules used for generating power installed on a raised structure on a building that allows for the continued use of the area beneath for a secondary purpose.
Renewable Generation. Renewable Generation, as defined in 225 CMR 14.02: Definitions.
Renewable Generation Attribute. A Renewable Generation Attribute, as defined in 225 CMR 14.02: Definitions.
Reservation Period. The period of time during which an STGU is entitled to a Statement of Qualification reservation prior to the STGU's receipt of notice of authorization to interconnect from the Distribution Company and issuance of a Final Statement of Qualification by the Department.
RPS Class I Renewable Generation. RPS Class I Renewable Generation, as defined in 225 CMR 14.02: Definitions.
RPS Class I Renewable Generation Attribute. A RPS Class I Renewable Generation Attribute, as defined in 225 CMR 14.02: Definitions.
RPS Class I Renewable Generation Unit. A RPS Class I Renewable Generation Unit, as defined in 225 CMR 14.02: Definitions.
SMART Tariff. The SMART Provision tariff for each individual Distribution Company as reviewed and approved by the DPU, as may be amended from time to time.
Solar Contract. An executed agreement between a solar installer and the Owner or Customer of Record identifying ownership rights to an STGU and/or some payment mechanism for the electricity generated by the STGU.
Solar Program Administrator. The program administrator for 225 CMR 28.00 that is selected pursuant to 225 CMR 28.15.
Solar Tariff Generation Unit (STGU). A Generation Unit that generates electricity using solar photovoltaic technology and meets all of the eligibility criteria set forth in 225 CMR 28.07.
Standalone STGU. An STGU that serves no associated On-site Load other than parasitic or station load utilized to operate the Generation Unit or coupled Energy Storage System.
State Qualifying Facility. Means a Qualifying Facility, as defined by the DPU in 220 CMR 8.02: Definitions.
Statement of Qualification. A document issued by the Department that qualifies an STGU under 225 CMR 28.00.
Statement of Qualification Application. An application to qualify an STGU submitted pursuant to 225 CMR 28.06.
Summer Peak Period. The summer Seasonal Peak Period as detailed in 225 CMR 21.05.
Third-party Owner. An entity that has a turnkey contract involving a power purchase agreement, lease, or other arrangements with a Customer of Record, but is the Owner of the STGU. The Third-party Owner may have a separate contract with another entity for the actual installation work.
Waitlist. The list of Statement of Qualification Applications waiting to be qualified for a given Program Year pursuant to 225 CMR 28.06(4).
Winter Peak Period. The winter Seasonal Peak Period as detailed in 225 CMR 21.05.