On June 20, 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”) filed emergency regulations for the SMART 3.0 Program, the newest iteration of DOER’s Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (“SMART”) tariff-based...more
6/25/2025
/ Clean Energy ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Filing Deadlines ,
New Regulations ,
Public Comment ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Renewable Energy ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government
Massachusetts recently stepped closer to its first major solicitation for long-term energy storage contracts under its new Section 83E authority. On May 5, the MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER), in partnership with the...more
5/22/2025
/ Batteries ,
Clean Energy ,
Comment Period ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Storage ,
Filing Deadlines ,
Public Utility ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Renewable Energy ,
Request for Proposals ,
State and Local Government ,
Utilities Sector
On November 21, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy signed into law sweeping clean energy legislation (St. 2024 c. 239, An Act Promoting a Clean Energy Grid, Advancing Equity and Protecting Ratepayers, referred to here...more
1/15/2025
/ Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Infrastructure ,
New Legislation ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Renewable Energy ,
State and Local Government
This is another installment of our blog series on the landmark 2024 Massachusetts Clean Energy Bill, signed into law on November 21, 2024. Previous posts addressed how the Clean Energy Bill aims to transform the deployment of...more
On November 20, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed “An Act Promoting a Clean Energy Grid, Advancing Equity, and Protecting Ratepayers,” into law as Chapter 239 of the Acts of 2024. Among other things, the new...more
On August 29, 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) issued a highly anticipated order approving the Electric Sector Modernization Plans (“ESMPs”) filed by the three Massachusetts electric distribution...more
As soon as tomorrow (Thursday, April 4, 2024), New England could have a new long-term transmission planning process—and one that puts the states in the driver’s seat.
The New England Power Pool (“NEPOOL”) Transmission...more
On February 15, 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) issued a much-anticipated order in docket D.P.U. 21-100 that finally promulgates regulations (220 CMR 18.00) to implement 2021 statutory changes...more
2/22/2024
/ Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Energy Sector ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
Tax Credits ,
Utilities Sector ,
Wind Power
Sometimes, “mostly dead” is just a pause before successfully storming the castle. On July 14, Governor Baker vetoed the climate bill that passed the Massachusetts Legislature on July 4 with overwhelming support... I couldn’t...more
On January 4th, as the legislative session came to a close, both houses of the Massachusetts legislature passed “An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy.” My colleague, Seth Jaffe, posted on...more
1/6/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Electricity ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Net Zero ,
New Legislation ,
Offshore Wind ,
Renewable Energy ,
SMART ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
Utilities Sector ,
Wind Power
When the Massachusetts DPU opened docket DPU 20-75, I described it as a proposal to fundamentally change system planning and cost allocation in Massachusetts. The interconnection process in Massachusetts has been a perpetual...more
On October 22, the Massachusetts DPU issued an Order opening a new docket (DPU 20-75) that seeks comments on a proposal to shake up the way the electric distribution system is planned and paid for in Massachusetts. As I see...more
On July 23, 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”) filed final regulations implementing a “Clean Peak Energy Standard,” which formally went into effect on August 7, 2020. The final regulations are...more
On July 2, 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities launched an “Investigation into the Modernization of the Electric Grid – Phase Two.” In this investigation, the DPU will look again at deploying advanced...more
Last week, five New England States (all but New Hampshire) announced a collaborative effort to explore opportunities for expanding imports of power from large hydro facilities into New England. The states tabbed the New...more