The people of the Commonwealth deserve certainty over their monthly costs and the ability to go about their daily lives without concern over access to energy. S.3143 helps do just that by encouraging more local clean energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels and new expensive grid infrastructure. The bill wisely turns to ready-to-deploy energy resources, including distributed solar and energy storage.
By cutting red tape and reducing needless friction in the development process, the bill will facilitate increased deployment of distributed solar and energy storage, helping to increase access for communities across Massachusetts. This additional deployment is timely, as it will help reduce energy costs and boost reliability at a time when the state is yet again experiencing extreme heat and some of the highest electricity prices in the country.
We are encouraged by the bill’s authorization to create a new program that will encourage deployment of new mid-scale energy storage resources, which play a key role in helping achieve the goal set by Governor Healey earlier this year and deepen cost savings by reducing peak demand.
CCSA thanks Senate President Spilka, Senator Barrett, Senator Rodrigues, and the entire chamber for their dedication in advancing energy legislation that prioritizes access and affordability for Massachusetts communities. It’s a testament to the shared understanding that more distributed solar and storage are good for the people of the Commonwealth, the economy, and our power grid.
We look forward to working with both chambers during the conference committee to get the legislation over the finish line and to the Governor’s desk for signature.
Read CCSA’s statement on MA H.4744