Biomass and APS repeal debated; stakeholders urge sequencing with Clean Heat Standard

BOSTON — The administration’s draft would repeal the Alternative Portfolio Standard (APS), a program that has supported biofuel blending in the heating sector. Testimony revealed conditional agreement from the liquid fuels industry and strong objections from environmental and community groups.

Representatives of the heating oil and biofuel industry said they would support repeal of the APS only if a successor program — the state’s long‑promised clean heat standard — is finalized and ready to accept the same biofuel feedstocks. Industry witnesses said APS has enabled hundreds of millions of gallons of waste‑based feedstock blends and immediate greenhouse‑gas reductions; they argued a clean heat standard must be operational before APS is retired to avoid losing emissions reductions.

Environmental and public‑health witnesses opposed extended public support for woody biomass or new municipal purchases of biomass power (a separate provision that would allow municipal light plants limited purchases). They asked the committee to move to repeal the APS and to keep the biomass barriers in place while a robust clean heat standard is implemented, and to prevent municipal purchases of new biomass power that would increase local pollution.

Several witnesses asked for sequencing language that would keep APS credits active until the clean heat standard is in force and that ensure DOER and DEP accept the same feedstocks under the successor program. The committee also heard calls for continuing emissions reporting and for safeguards to avoid double counting of compliance credits.