Policy Priorities For MA House Energy Package 12/2025

Policy Priorities For MA House Energy Package 12/2025

The House moved in November on creating an energy affordability package, but paused because the Costly Climate-Rollback Bill (H.4744) took us in the wrong direction (see here and here for details on that). Now, we need to move beyond stopping legislation to passing truly transformative policies that build a clean, affordable future.  We have three themes we ask you, legislators, to include, with policy lists and resources in further pages.

1. Put People Over Energy Profits – Massachusetts ranks the second-highest in the continental United States for electricity and first for natural gas – a major contributor to our high bills. From summer 2024 to summer 2025, ISO-New England reported the price of natural gas went up 83%. In 2023 alone, gas utility capital spending cost Massachusetts ratepayers an estimated $1.5 billion, accounting for much of utility bill costs. Additionally a large portion of our rising gas delivery rates are due to the Gas System Enhancement Plan (GSEP), the program gas companies use to put new pipes in the ground to expand their gas system, instead of affordable repairs to necessary pipes.

2. Strengthen Mass Save – Mass Save is currently delivering $3.51 in benefits for every dollar invested. But those benefits are not equitably distributed, are hard to access for low and middle income families, and almost entirely off the table for renters.

3. Expand Clean, Affordable Energy while Protecting Forests – All forms of clean energy – solar, wind, efficiency – drive down energy costs. With those resources, we are freeing ourselves from dependency on fossil fuels which  drive  up wholesale and retail rates.

Other policies needed this session to protect families, workers and the planet.

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Put People Over Energy Profits – Massachusetts ranks the second-highest in the continental United States for electricity and first for natural gas – a major contributor to our high bills. From summer 2024 to summer 2025, ISO-New England reported the price of natural gas went up 83%. In 2023 alone, gas utility capital spending cost Massachusetts ratepayers an estimated $1.5 billion, accounting for much of utility bill costs. Additionally a large portion of our rising gas delivery rates are due to the Gas System Enhancement Plan (GSEP), the program gas companies use to put new pipes in the ground to expand their gas system, instead of affordable repairs to necessary pipes.

Policy	Bill Numbers	Resources	Status
Stop new intrastate gas pipeline expansion within 5 miles of Environmental Justice Communities and make a just transition for gas workers	(H.3547/S.229)	Fact Sheet	TUE Hearing was 11/13/25; H.3547 extended to March 2026
Stop utility companies from lobbying and advertising with ratepayer funds	(H.3400/S.2239)	Fact Sheet	State Admin Hearing was 7/22/25S.2239 Reported out favorably
Cut GSEP spending on costly pipe replacement and move toward phasing out Thu program entirely (see row 1 for just transition for gas workers)	H.3539/S.2249 Section 8		Senate Reported out favorably;  H.3539 extended to March 2026
Stop 3rd Party Suppliers from ripping off vulnerable communities	Original Bill has best language (H.3534/S.2255) (Similar: Healey’s Bill H.4144, Sections 21&15)	Website	H.3534 accompanied Costly Climate-Rollback Bill (H.4744)
Don’t make electric ratepayers fund new gas pipelines (pipeline tax)	Costly Climate-Rollback Bill (H.4744) would do this	SJC 2016 Decision	The MA SJC ruled against it in 2016. We oppose this in H.4744.
Don’t make all gas ratepayers pay for new gas line extensions	Needs to backed by statute		At the DPU in Climate Compliance Plan proceedings
Protect residents from the environmental and financial impacts of data centers, particularly rate and tax increases from utility infrastructure build out

Strengthen Mass Save – Mass Save is currently delivering $3.51 in benefits for every dollar invested. But those benefits are not equitably distributed, are hard to access for low and middle income families, and almost entirely off the table for renters.

Policy	Bill Numbers	Resources	Status
Maintain the new Environmental Justice and affordability commitments in the Mass Save 2025-2027 plan, like the low/middle income and tenant protections	Costly Climate-Rollback Bill (H.4744) would cut Good version in Healey’s Bill H.4144	Mass Save 3 Year Plan	We oppose repealing these commitments.
Replace the standard Mass Save household audit with a Zero Carbon Assessment which would include incorporating solar/ storage/ load management recommendations	(H.3565/S.2247)	Fact Sheet	Senate version reported out favorably; House bill extended to March 2026
A new Mass Save incentive package for tenants built around new tech that tenants can own such as portable solar, window heat pumps, easy access lower bills with community solar

Expand Clean, Affordable Energy while Protecting Forests – All forms of clean energy – solar, wind, efficiency – drive down energy costs. With those resources, we are freeing ourselves from dependency on fossil fuels which  drive  up wholesale and retail rates.

Policy	Bill Numbers	Resources	Status
Keep our 2030 climate commitments	Costly Climate-Rollback Bill (H.4744) Section 92		We oppose repealing this commitment.
Eliminate municipal caps on solar development and require simple, online permitting for solar and battery storage, allowing municipalities to build their own and provide low cost solar to residents	S.2269	Fact Sheet
All clean energy facilities must be environmentally responsibly sited, including protecting wild lands that create the best watersheds.		MPF Siting Vision Statement
No toxic biomass! End MLP subsidies.	H.3549/S.2288	Website
Keep our 1982 democratic protections from new nuclear power	Costly Climate- Rollback Bill (H.4744) Section 80 Healey’s Bill H.4144, Section 45	Letter to Gov. Healey	We oppose repealing these protections.
Increase access to clean energy to reduce energy supply costs for utilities and all ratepayers by accelerating connection of distributed energy resources to bring more lower cost clean energy on-line	Healey’s Bill H.4144, Section 159

Additional Important Priorities– In addition to caring about energy affordability, families and workers also need clean air and a resilient climate. Massachusetts residents face increased health costs due to pollution and rely on the government to recover from the devastating effects of climate change.

Policy	Bill Numbers	Resources	Status
Bring Clean Air to Our Communities
Set ambitious outdoor air pollution reduction targets, as well as identify the areas hit worst by dirty air	H.2369/S.1548	Fact Sheet	Both outdoor bills have been reported favorably from their  Committees on Public Health to their respective Ways and Means Committees.
Improve indoor air quality and mold contamination with a focus on high risk buildings like schools, childcare centers, nursing homes, and public housing	H.2427/S.1546		Both indoor bills have been reported favorably from their Committees on Public Health to their respective Ways and Means Committee.
Make Polluters Pay
Make the biggest oil and gas companies pay for climate damages, not taxpayers. Would generate over $25 billion of revenue over 25 years for climate adaptation	H.1014/S.588	Fact Sheet, Website	While the Senate Bill was sent to study, the House Bill is still live! A favorable report on the House side will open the door for reviving the Senate version.

Additional policies in the Healey’s Bill that support energy affordability

Please reach out to a member of the planning team or MPF co-facilitators Claire Karl Müller (claire@uumassaction.org) or Dan Zackin (dan@betterfutureproject.org) with any questions.