Clean Energy Bill Passes Massachusetts Senate, Making Strong Progress Toward an Affordable, Clean Energy Future

The Massachusetts Senate passed its energy affordability bill, S.3143, late last night, which seeks to lower costs and strengthen the electric grid by steering the Commonwealth away from unnecessary utility spending on gas infrastructure and accelerating the deployment of solar. This bill is a vast improvement from the House version, and includes provisions that advance flexible interconnection and broader interconnection reforms, plug-in solar with a small-system carveout, permitting reforms, community power networks, and frameworks to support DER-first utility planning. Importantly, the Senate bill maintains investments in Mass Save, avoiding the devastating budget cuts included in the House bill. The Senate also adopted important amendments to explore potential responses to the loss of the federal solar tax credit and promote transparency and accountability around utility profits.

As the Senate and the House will now work together to deliver the final bill, Vote Solar and its partners will continue to work with lawmakers to pursue solutions that advance clean energy benefits for all Massachusetts communities. 

Vote Solar’s Senior Northeast Regional Director, Elena Weissmann, issued the following statement: 

“The Senate’s energy bill is a key opportunity for the Commonwealth to build a cleaner, more affordable energy future that delivers real improvement for families. With utilities charging more and more for energy, lawmakers have a chance to invest in solutions that expand access to local solar, modernize the energy grid, and ensure that every household can benefit from the clean energy transition. 

“This legislation represents meaningful progress, and while we celebrate the great strides made by Massachusetts State Senators, there is still work ahead. As the House and Senate begin reconciling the bills in the coming months, we hope lawmakers will move quickly to preserve and strengthen the best elements of both proposals to deliver a final bill that works for all Massachusetts communities. We look forward to continuing to work with policymakers to ensure the Commonwealth advances a clean energy future that is affordable, equitable, and resilient for all.”