BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey’s administration recently finalized the next phase of the state’s Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART 3.0) program, cementing the Commonwealth’s status as a national leader on energy affordability and clean energy innovation. The new regulations dramatically expand community solar and distributed generation opportunities, ensuring Massachusetts residents and businesses have greater access to lower energy bills at a moment when costs are rising nationwide.
Key program updates include a 2025 allocation of 900 megawatts (MW), minimum savings requirements tied directly to bill credits—set at 40% for low-income customers and 20% for residential customers—and a new option for projects to allocate 15% of capacity to low-income subscribers at no cost. Together, these reforms set a clear standard for how states can scale local clean energy while keeping affordability and equity at the forefront.
“Governor Healey’s leadership has placed Massachusetts firmly at the forefront of America’s clean energy race,” said Kate Daniel, Northeast Regional Director for the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA). “These SMART 3.0 reforms don’t just expand solar capacity—they expand opportunity. Families and businesses will see real savings, the grid will be more resilient, and communities across the Commonwealth will benefit from new investment and jobs. It’s no coincidence that Massachusetts already leads the nation in healthcare, education, and quality of life. With today’s action, it’s clear the state also leads in community solar and distributed generation.”
Massachusetts already stands among the top states for community solar, alongside leaders like New York and Illinois. According to Wood Mackenzie, the Commonwealth has installed more than 1.4 GW of cumulative community solar capacity to date, making it one of the largest and most mature markets in the country. With SMART 3.0 in place, Massachusetts is poised to accelerate deployment further by nearly another gigawatt, critically timed to take advantage of federal incentives while they still exist, and providing state-level leadership to keep bills affordable, no matter what happens in Washington, DC.
The new SMART program rules arrive at a pivotal moment. With federal programs such as Solar for All put on hold, states must act decisively to create durable, scalable programs that outlast short-term uncertainty. Massachusetts’ action provides a model for other states: bold and rooted in delivering affordability through proven, local clean energy solutions.
Across the nation, 20 states and the District of Columbia have already adopted policies enabling third-party community solar programs. Additionally, Microsoft, Google, Walmart, Starbucks, Rivian, Wendy’s, and T-Mobile are just a few of the Fortune 500 companies that have signed agreements with community solar developers to invest in projects across the country. Companies and states across the nation recognize that, as they look to meet rising energy needs, ambitious clean energy goals, community solar, and distributed energy resources are answering the call.
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About CCSA
CCSA is a national trade association representing over 125 community solar developers, businesses, and nonprofits. Together, we are building the electric grid of the future where every customer has the freedom to support the generation of clean, local solar energy to power their lives. Through legislative and regulatory advocacy, and the support of a diverse coalition — including advocates for competition, clean energy, ratepayers, landowners, farmers, and environmental justice — we enable policies that unlock the potential of distributed energy resources, starting with community solar. For more information, visit https://www.communitysolaraccess.org and follow the group on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Youtube.