The Massachusetts Legislature has ed a bill aimed at strengthening the state's fight against climate change and accelerating progress toward its goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.  6o1m2h

The S.2967 Act promotes a clean energy grid, reforms the siting and permitting of clean energy facilities, expands the electric vehicle (EV) charging network, and incentivizes innovative technologies such as battery storage, fusion energy, advanced metering, and plug-in adapters for meters. 

Permit review and infrastructure efficiency 

The bill consolidates the review of siting and permitting for clean energy, accelerating the planning, construction, and commissioning of clean energy infrastructure such as solar, wind, and storage.  

One of the key aspects of the law is that large-scale projects requiring state, regional, and local permits will be consolidated into a single permit with a 15-month action timeline.  

Meanwhile, smaller projects requiring multiple local permits will also be consolidated into a single permit with a 12-month action timeline.  

Each process is based on the work of a commission established by the Healey-Driscoll istration, which received broad from a diverse group of stakeholders. 

The expedited permitting process is combined with an enhanced community review through new offices created by the bill, including the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity, the Public Engagement Office at the Energy Facilities Siting Board, and the Siting and Permitting Division at the Department of Energy Resources (DOER). Each office will interact with communities and applicants and provide resources to ensure a community-centered review. 

Incentives for Clean Energy Use 

The bill encourages gas companies to seek the expansion of district heat pump systems and climate-friendly geothermal heating. The plan to achieve this is by ordering the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to take greenhouse gas impacts into when reviewing gas company proposals, putting a stop to a policy that historically favored natural gas infrastructure over other heating options. 

Electric vehicle infrastructure 

The bill aims to expand the availability of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and facilitate the installation of pole-mounted chargers in streets and parking lots.  

The new law centralizes state coordination of charger installation through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordination Council (EVICC).  

The EVICC will also be responsible for identifying sites for a statewide network of fast-charging stations along major roads and highways in Massachusetts, forecasting EV charging demand, and assessing its impact on the electricity distribution grid over the next ten years. 

Additionally, it eliminates restrictions on the installation of EV chargers for residents who own properties within condominiums, homeowners associations, and historic districts, and authorizes condominium boards to install EV chargers on common areas.  

The legislation extends the MOR-EV program until 2027, providing residents more opportunities to qualify for rebates ranging from 3.500 to 6.000 dollars for the purchase of qualifying new or used electric vehicles. It also makes it easier for cities and towns to acquire electric school vehicles, including electric school buses, and EV charging equipment for municipalities. 

The bill also seeks to dispel misinformation about the safety risks of electric vehicles and battery storage by requiring a state guide on the public health, safety, and environmental impacts of these technologies. 

Fusion energy and battery storage 

The legislation makes Massachusetts the first state in the nation to add fusion energy to the list of Class I renewable energy generation sources under the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Additionally, it sets a 5.000 MW energy storage procurement goal to intermittent clean energy resources such as solar and wind.  

It also authorizes DOER to coordinate with other New England states to consider competitive bids for long-term clean energy generation, including existing nuclear generation, for the benefit of the Commonwealth and the region. 

Offshore wind energy 

The bill allows future offshore wind energy contracts to be set for between 15 and 30 years, instead of the previous maximum of 20 years. It also orders the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to review the effectiveness of existing procurements in contributing to the state's emission requirements and ensuring high labor standards in clean energy, including offshore wind energy, clean energy generation, and storage acquisitions.  

Furthermore, it requires DOER, in consultation with DPU and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), to issue guidance on long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) between offshore wind developers and municipalities, including approved aggregation plans.  

The new legislation also expands existing tax credits for employers at offshore wind facilities, which now only need 50 full-time employees to be eligible for tax credits and capital investment rebates. 

Solar Energy 

This bill establishes new policies to facilitate solar energy deployment through updates to historic district laws, provides policy recommendations through a solar canopy task force, and directs DPU to explore expanding access to net metering credits.  

It also increases affordability and access for low-income customers through the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program and authorizes the transfer of SMART solar credits to customers in any electric utility service territory. 

Advanced metering Infrastructure 

As electricity grid demand rises with the adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), which includes smart meters, communication networks, and data management systems, will enable efficient grid management and increased resilience.  

This legislation s the implementation of these critical technologies by requiring utilities that deploy them to create a centralized data repository to provide detailed customer AMI data access.  

It also authorizes DPU to provide cost recovery for the expenses utilities incur in implementing AMI. Additionally, it maintains consumer protections by establishing an opt-out option for electricity customers.  

The legislation also allows customers to install EV chargers or heat pumps without the need for costly electrical upgrades by authorizing the installation of meter plug-in adapters to effectively manage increased loads. 

Building decarbonization 

Because buildings throughout the state remain a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, this legislation promotes efforts to decarbonize them. It authorizes condominium association boards to install energy-efficient devices and electric vehicle chargers in common areas and increases heat pump efficiency by allowing installers to use the latest refrigerants. 

Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) noted, "As we achieve the shared goal of reforming siting and permitting to ensure that clean energy projects are approved and built at the pace necessary, we are also expanding infrastructure and incentives for electric vehicle charging, addressing the high cost and long lifespan of gas infrastructure projects, and working to transition to cleaner energy sources."