State Clean Energy Legislative Update

Updates for the December 2025 CELG Newsletter

Key State-Mandated Targets & Plans

• Massachusetts has adopted legally binding greenhouse-gas emission reduction targets: under the 2021 climate law, the state must reduce GHG emissions by 50% below 1990 levels by 2030 with the goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

• The state’s official planning document — the Massachusetts Clean Energy & Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030 — lays out pathways for emissions, clean energy deployment, grid build-out, storage and resiliency.

Emerging Friction, Risk & Legislative Uncertainty

• In November 2025 the state House advanced a draft bill (led by Rep. Mark Cusack) that would weaken the binding 2030 emissions target (convert it to an advisory), reduce clean-energy procurement requirements (from ~3 % annual increase to ~1 %), and cut the state’s flagship efficiency program (Mass Save) by ~$500 M.

• Strong push-back from environmental and climate groups caused legislators to pause that bill. As of 19 Nov 2025 the House leadership indicated that changes to the 2030 law are likely not to be passed in that session.

• For developers and investors, this creates planning risk: the core 2030 mandate remains legally binding for now, but the potential for legislative roll-back introduces uncertainty around timing, project regulatory regimes and incentives.

Governor’s 2025 “Energy Affordability, Independence and Innovation” Package

There is also the Governor's bill/package transmitted in May 2025, which is aimed at responding to federal rollbacks of clean-energy tax credits and grants (Solar for All, NEVI, etc.).

Key themes from the findings in the draft that evolved into H.4744:

• Acknowledge federal actions cutting or constraining: offshore wind approvals, Solar for All funds, NEVI EV-charging funds, and IRA-style clean-energy tax credits.

• Emphasize the need to rebalance climate ambition and affordability while still aiming at 2050 net-zero.

Where This Leaves Massachusetts’ Energy Transition Mandate

• The 50% below 1990 by 2030 target and 2050 net-zero requirement are still on the books as of today.

• The 2024 law plus the new storage procurement (§83E) mean that, even amid federal credit rollbacks, MA is doubling down on storage and grid-modernization as a core tool.

• The S.2269/S.2316 cluster would, if enacted, make MA one of the more microgrid-friendly and DER-friendly states in terms of legal authority and interconnection/pilot structures.

The H.4744 debate is the main source of downside risk to the binding nature of the 2030 mandate and Mass Save-driven electrification; for now, leadership has backed away from pushing it through quickly, but it remains a live vehicle.