As Massachusetts continues to make progress on its climate commitments, Vote Solar, together with coalition partners, Senator Eldridge, and Representative Lewis, has proposed two new bills that will prioritize access to local solar projects and distributed energy resources (DERs), ensuring that the Commonwealth’s grid can flexibly and affordably meet the demands of the clean energy transition.
Taken together, the two bills, the Maximizing and Optimizing Small-scale Assets in Communities (MOSAIC) Act and the Facilitating Distributed Energy Resources in the Commonwealth (Facilitating DERs) Act, can transform the electric grid using proven clean energy solutions that save ratepayers money. The bills set the Commonwealth on a path toward a distributed clean energy future. The MOSAIC Act (SD2553 / HD4155) sets the ambitious goals that Massachusetts needs to ensure a flexible, reliable and affordable grid, while the Facilitating DERs Act (SD2488 / HD4154) proposes the common-sense fixes that get us there feasibly and efficiently.
“With Massachusetts’ record-high utility bills and growing electricity demands, we must turn our sights to solutions that lower costs and provide for grid flexibility. Distributed energy resources are key ingredients in that vision,” said Lindsay Griffin, Vote Solar’s Northeast Regional Director. “We know that DERs, such as local solar solutions, are the surest way to ensure the benefits of our clean energy transition are felt tangibly by all communities.”
The Facilitating DERs bill focuses on short-term fixes including streamlining permitting and interconnection processes for small solar projects. The MOSAIC Act lays the groundwork for the distributed grid of the future, and longer-term solutions like integrating virtual power plants (VPPs) as a central force in reducing peak demand and realigning utility incentives to foster greater adoption of distributed resources.
“A clean, flexible and affordable electric grid is not just a goal — it’s a necessity for a sustainable future,” said Vote Solar’s Northeast Regional Director Elena Weissmann. “By enacting common-sense and visionary changes to the way we deploy DERs, we can help guide Massachusetts toward the future it deserves. State-level action is more important than ever in light of President Trump’s plans to derail our Commonwealth and nation’s paths to net zero.”
News item from Vote Solar
