The Mass. House just voted to overhaul the state's energy strategy
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The Massachusetts House voted yesterday to approve a sweeping energy reform package designed to reposition the state's climate strategy toward short-term affordability for ratepayers.
Why it matters: House leaders want to shield residents from the "sticker shock" of spiking energy prices while attempting to keep the state's greenhouse gas emission targets on life support.
- The legislation (H. 5151) tries to balance Massachusetts' aggressive decarbonization goals with significant cuts to signature climate programs.
Between the lines: The debate comes during a bruising winter and after a blizzard that left 250,000 homes in the dark.
- There's pressure on lawmakers to address a growing heating crisis on top of persistent complaints about surging energy prices.
State of play: The bill slashes $1 billion from Mass Save, the state's flagship energy efficiency program.
- Democratic House leaders are framing the cut as a necessary "pause" to audit state spending.
- Advocates like Caitlin Peale Sloan from the Conservation Law Foundation warn that it will "stop the program dead" and hamper weatherization efforts.
The intrigue: The bill passed the House 128-27 late Thursday night, with just two progressive Democrats — Somerville Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven and Cambridge Rep. Mike Connolly — voting with Republicans against House Speaker Ron Mariano's plan.
The big picture: House leaders project the package will save ratepayers nearly $9 billion over the next decade through direct rebates from penalties paid by utilities, cuts to the surcharge that funds Mass Save and discounted rates for low- and moderate-income customers.
- The package fast-tracks offshore wind contracting through 2029 and would let a solar program bypass local permitting bottlenecks.
- It would also reverse the state's ban on new nuclear energy production.
For consumers, the bill mandates that 70% of penalties paid by energy suppliers be returned directly to consumers through 2029.
- New rules would force gas companies to file rate schedules every five years instead of 10 and require audits for any infrastructure project exceeding $25 million.
What's next: The bill heads to the Senate, where more climate-minded lawmakers like Sen. Michael Barrett have already expressed dismay over the cuts to Mass Save.
- That sets the stage for tense negotiations between the two Democrat-controlled chambers.