Analysis of House Energy Package 2026

ANALYSIS

• Things taken out from November we didn’t like (successes):

  • No changes to the 2030 climate goals (a major win!)

  • Removes the “pipeline tax” proposal which would allow electric bills to pay for gas infrastructure (another big win!)

• Policies we support:

  • Curb toxic biomass! Ends MLP subsidies.

  • Increased protections from predatory third-party suppliers

  • A huge expansion of solar energy, including DOER (Department Of Energy Resources) authorization for 10 gigawatts of solar and automated permitting for residential solar

  • Low/Moderate income rate protections maintained

  • Positive regulations around labor and network geothermal clean heat generation

  • Positive regulations around balcony solar panels and vehicle to grid technology

  • Doubles the municipal net metering cap from 10MW to 20MW per municipality

But it also includes a massive poison pill in the form of a $1 BILLION cut to the Mass Save budget. This essentially would shut down Mass Save in 2027, taking with it the tens of thousands of clean energy jobs that are supported by energy efficiency and electrification work. It would immediately strip Massachusetts families' ability to get the energy efficiency and electric upgrades that can result in healthier, more affordable homes while likely causing enormous cost to restart the program. Meanwhile gas bills have been increasing 10% each year thanks to continued gas pipeline spending.

The new bill does nothing to cut gas utilities spending ratepayer money on lobbying, perks, and executive salaries. It also fails to take on one of the biggest causes of high bills, the massive expenditures we make on fossil fuel infrastructure through GSEP (the Gas System Enhancement Program).

Bad and omitted provisions include:

• Nothing to cut utility spending on lobbying, executive salaries, or perks, which would immediately save ratepayers money

• Nothing to cut GSEP (Gas System Enhancement Plan), when massive expenditures on gas infrastructure are one of the biggest drivers of high energy bills

• Nothing to stop gas system expansion

• Removes the 1982 referendum that requires ballot approval for new nuclear energy

• Redirects Alternative Compliance Payment funding away from renewable energy and energy efficiency