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Massachusetts House Energy Bill Passed with Massive Improvements Except One Terrible Section

Last night, Thursday, the Massachusetts House passed H.5151, the latest iteration of its energy affordability bill. While we strongly oppose its...

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Massachusetts

Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Climate change

Massachusetts House Energy Bill Passed with Massive Improvements Except One Terrible Section

Last night, Thursday, the Massachusetts House passed H.5151, the latest iteration of its energy affordability bill. While we strongly oppose its proposed cut to Mass Save, overall, this bill is a massive improvement, both in terms of its impact on the climate and energy affordability, over the first version put out by the House Telecommunications Utility and Energy Committee back in November. Thanks to everyone who reached out to their lawmakers in opposition to that legislation, the Representatives who pushed back against pro-fossil fuel policies, and the hard work of House Ways and Means leadership and staff, many of the worst provisions originally in the bill, such as a pipeline tax, were removed.

Here is a summary of many of the best and worst provisions in this 100+ page bill.

Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Renewable energy Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electricity and the grid Energy efficiency Heating Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels Action Alert

Newest Energy Bill Out In Massachusetts: Call Your Rep!

The House Ways and Means Committee has just put out a new version of their energy bill, H.5151, which is expected to be voted on by the full House this Thursday. This bill, while a massive improvement over what left the House Telecommunications Utility and Energy Committee in November, is still a mixed bag. Though it removes many of the previous bill’s worst provisions and improves consumer protections for electricity customers, it would still impose draconian cuts on the Mass Save program. Yet again, we need you to take action by calling your representative!

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Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Energy efficiency Climate change Action Alert

Don't Look Up: The Environmental Consequences of Mass. House of Representatives' Energy Bill

The Massachusetts House of Representatives is moving forward once again with an energy bill that could impact affordability and climate progress for years to come. The House Ways and Means Committee is working on a new draft, picking up where the Energy Committee left off in November with House Bill 4744, a truly awful piece of legislation. We believe that Ways and Means will come out with a new version by the second week of February.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Energy efficiency Climate change Action Alert

Stand Up For Massachusetts Clean Energy Programs

The Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee seems to be close to advancing the controversial energy House Bill 4744. This would keep Massachusetts dependent on fossil fuels by cutting Mass Save’s budget, subsidizing gas equipment, and opening the door to putting the cost of new gas pipelines on the backs of electricity ratepayers.

Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electricity and the grid Green municipal aggregation

Third-Party Suppliers Continue to Overcharge Massachusetts Electricity Consumers: In 2024, by $81 Million

In 2024, third-party “competitive” electric suppliers increased residential electric rates by $80.7 million, according to data from the Energy Information Administration and Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. 

We are reporting here a continuation of a pattern in which retail electricity suppliers who sign up individual customers greatly overcharge them compared to what the customers would pay if they received supply service from either their utility (Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil) or their municipal aggregation if it was available. 

These companies did this by signing up residential customers, often by promising to lower their electric bill, and then charging their customers an average of 2.1 cents more per kilowatt-hour (kWh) than customers would have paid had they stayed on either their utilities’ basic service rate or their community’s municipal aggregation program (if it had one).

Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electricity and the grid

Utility Securitization: A Possible Electric Rate Reduction Tool

It is becoming clear that the cost of maintaining and modernizing our electricity grid is going to require large capital expenditures by our local electric utilities. Financing these investments, while keeping electric rates from rising further, is going to be a challenge.

One policy that could help do this, which has already been used across the country, is utility securitization.  

Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Climate change

Should Data Centers Receive a Sales Tax Exemption?

Recently, data centers have rapidly become a topic that advocates and policymakers need to reckon with in the clean energy space. Mostly, we’ve seen the data center discussion take place in other parts of the country, where electricity prices are lower and it’s more attractive for data center developers to build. But recently, the discussion arrived in Massachusetts with a discussion of data centers and sales tax exemptions. If you’re a Massachusetts resident, you have an opportunity to make your voice heard until August 25, 2025. 

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien