HD 2072 requires Massachusetts' energy department to annually report by August 15th on how it spends money from Clean Energy Standard programs. The report must detail all expenditures from alternative compliance payments and certificates/credits, including specific cost impacts on electric and gas customers broken down by customer type. It also must explain how these spending decisions help meet state clean energy targets under Chapter 21N. This bill focuses on transparency for lawmakers and the public regarding program funding and its effects on utility customers.
HD 2146 requires Massachusetts' Department of Public Health to create a mandatory assessment tool within 12 months. This tool quantifies health impacts (like asthma, hospital visits, and premature death) and associated costs or savings from energy-related emissions (e.g., pollution from power plants) and energy efficiency/renewable energy benefits. It specifically analyzes effects on environmental justice communities, MassHealth, community hospitals, and state budgets. Starting 24 months after the law takes effect, all new state energy, transportation, or waste policies must explicitly factor in the tool's health cost analysis before adoption.
This bill (SD 938) allows municipalities to establish their own municipal lighting plants (community-owned electricity systems) by creating a standardized process for purchasing electricity infrastructure from private distribution companies. It requires municipalities seeking to acquire such infrastructure to submit detailed financial plans to the Department of Energy Resources, including property outlines, cost projections, and financing strategies. The department must then evaluate feasibility within 180 days and develop a standard formula (by December 31, 2022) to determine fair purchase prices for the property, excluding future profits or "stranded costs." This directly affects municipalities aiming to create affordable, locally-controlled electricity options.
This bill (HD 1855) requires Massachusetts' Department of Energy Resources to analyze the cost impacts of energy regulations on housing affordability. Specifically, it directs the department to assess: (1) the added cost for builders under each regulation compared to no regulation, (2) the total cost burden on housing production, and (3) existing programs that might offset these costs to keep housing prices stable. The department must report these findings to legislative committees by December 31, 2026. The bill does not create new tax incentives or change regulations - it only mandates a study to inform future policy.
HD 2311 establishes a standard requiring transportation fuel providers (such as refiners, blenders, and retailers) to reduce the carbon emissions of transportation fuels by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. It creates a credit system where providers using low-carbon fuels earn tradable credits to offset higher-emission fuels, measured across the full fuel lifecycle. The law also requires public entities earning credits to invest a portion in clean energy and accessible transportation projects for disadvantaged communities. The standard excludes aviation, rail, military, and waterborne fuels due to federal preemption.
This bill establishes a clean fuel standard requiring transportation fuel providers to reduce the carbon intensity of their fuels by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. It creates a credit-trading system where providers using low-carbon fuels (like electricity or sustainable aviation fuel) earn credits, while those exceeding the annual carbon intensity standard must purchase credits or face deficits. The Department of Energy Resources will set yearly standards based on full lifecycle emissions, with exceptions for aviation, rail, military, and small-volume fuel providers (though aviation can opt in). Crucially, public entities like utilities generating credits must invest a portion of their credit value into clean energy and accessible transportation projects in disadvantaged communities.
This bill establishes a state program to promote solar panel installations at Massachusetts K-12 public schools. It directly affects school districts by offering financial incentives (like grants, tax breaks, or loans), technical assistance, and streamlined permitting to cover installation costs and maximize energy savings. Key provisions include requiring roof evaluations before installation, expanding solar-powered EV charging infrastructure at schools, and creating an advisory group with input from energy experts, labor, solar industry, and utilities. The program also mandates reviewing other states' models and federal funding opportunities like the Inflation Reduction Act. The Department of Energy Resources will design and implement the program through regulations and public hearings.
HD 2556 establishes a clean fuel standard requiring transportation fuel providers to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. It creates a credit-trading system where providers using cleaner fuels earn credits to offset deficits from higher-emission fuels, with specific exclusions for aviation, rail, military, and small-volume providers (though aviation may opt in). Public entities like utilities must invest a portion of credit value into clean energy and accessible transportation projects in disadvantaged communities. The standard uses full lifecycle emissions data (including land use changes) measured annually via the GREET model to calculate compliance.
This bill directs offshore wind developers in Massachusetts to site onshore infrastructure (like power cables, substations, and underground conduits) exclusively on industrial sites or existing power plants. It prohibits such infrastructure from being placed on public beaches, parks, conservation lands, or in small tourism-dependent communities. The law also requires developers to avoid locations near underground water sources to prevent contamination risks from potential leaks. Additionally, the state energy office must review transmission studies for cost savings before new offshore wind contracts are approved and report findings to lawmakers and the public.
HD 2789 modifies Massachusetts' Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) rules to require renewable energy facilities seeking credit toward clean energy goals to include energy storage. It directly affects existing and new renewable energy projects (like solar or wind farms) that want to count toward RPS compliance. The bill mandates that facilities must either have installed storage at their site or contractually pair with storage that provides at least 25% of the facility's power capacity for four hours. Existing facilities operating before January 1, 2019, can qualify by adding storage after that date or entering a contractual agreement for storage. This changes eligibility rules but does not create new programs or funding.
