Massachusetts Passes Multi-Sector Clean Energy Bill
By Christian Roselund
On 21 July, 2022, the Massachusetts legislature passed a clean energy bill to accelerate zero-carbon solutions in the electricity, transportation, and buildings sectors, including accelerating offshore wind deployment and setting a phase-out date for petroleum-fired passenger vehicles. Top-line actions of “An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind” include:
- Mandates that the state’s utilities contract for a minimum of 5600 megawatts of offshore wind by 2027
- Mandates that passenger vehicles sold in-state must be zero-emissions by 2035
- Provides EV rebates of up to $5000, with an additional $1500 rebate for low-income individuals
- Removes a cap on solar installations up to 25 kW under the state’s net metering program
The wide-ranging bill makes a number of other changes. These include reducing incentives for fossil fuel equipment starting in 2025, requiring building energy use reporting for large buildings, setting up a pilot programs for fossil-free building renovations, and requiring electric utilities to submit proposals for time-of-use rates.
The bill represents a reconciliation of two different bills that previously passed the House and Senate, and now goes to Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker for approval. Sierra Club has described the bill as a “landmark” and noted that it will make it easier for the state to achieve its target of reducing emissions 50% economy-wide by 2030.
The bill does not accelerate Massachusetts’ Clean Energy Standard, which requires that the portion of clean energy sources (defined as having emissions 50% below the most efficient gas generator) increases 2% annually to reach 80% of electricity in 2050. But by increasing the offshore wind target, it is mandating a faster move to renewables in electricity. Using Vineyard Wind’s estimated capacity factor of 45%, 5600 megawatts of offshore wind would generate electricity equivalent to 46% of the state’s retail electricity sales in 2021.
The bill’s requirement that only zero-emissions vehicles can be sold after 2035 follows on an executive order signed by California Governor Newsom in September 2020 creating a similar requirement for new vehicles. Seven other states including Massachusetts followed California’s lead, but Massachusetts’ Clean Energy and Offshore Wind bill takes the rare step of writing this requirement into law, instead of acting solely through state regulations.
Source: An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind (Fast Democracy)
News coverage: Massachusetts passes ‘landmark’ climate bill to decarbonize multiple sectors, add 5.6 GW offshore wind (UtilityDive)
