Massachusetts

On June 20, 2025, the Department of Energy Resources released updates to the SMART program in the form of emergency regulations, which take immediate effect but can still be revised after public comments. The new regulations include two parts: minor updates to the existing SMART rules and a separate section of regulations for this new iteration of SMART. Capacity will become available in the new program’s first year on October 15, with all future years kicking off at the beginning of January. Community solar projects in the new program will all deliver at least 40% of capacity with a minimum 20% discount to low-income customers, who can now be qualified via participation in assistance programs or self-attestation.

The legislature has now passed the climate and energy package that it couldn’t get done in this year’s regular session – it includes two highlights for community solar: long-awaited reforms to siting and permitting and a concrete step toward the implementation of consolidated billing. The legislation kicks off a process for the DPU to investigate a net crediting option for NEM projects and, for AOBC projects, requires that the utilities implement a consolidated billing mechanism for low-income community shared solar projects. On updates to SMART, we’re still waiting for draft regulations.

The next step toward SMART updates will be the release of draft regulations this fall. Our last update noted that the MA legislature failed to pass a climate package in 2024, which included key siting and permitting reforms. Since then, Governor Healey introduced a supplemental budget that includes the siting and permitting language, which should at least keep up the momentum going into 2025. Lastly, the DPU opened a new docket to review an Eversource proposal to create capacity for community solar projects built by developers but managed by Eversource.

The Massachusetts legislature wrapped up its 2024 session without passing the climate package we were hoping for, which included key siting and permitting reforms, a mandate to implement net crediting, and the 10 GW distributed solar goal. It’s possible that the legislature gets back to work in an informal session, during which we’d expect to see the siting and permitting efforts get renewed attention, but otherwise they will pick back up for the 2025 session. On the straw proposal for updating SMART, the first stakeholder sessions have taken place and conversations with the Department of Energy Resources will continue until we see draft regulations in the fall.

On July 10, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) presented its straw proposal for updating SMART. Highlights include transitioning the program to an adjustable block structure, requiring that all community solar projects serve at least 40% of capacity to low-income customers, and adding both self-attestation and third-party program documentation as approved methods of income verification. Stakeholder sessions are being held during the last week of July and draft regulations will be released in the fall.

The DPU finally announced – on June 4 – its long-awaited order for Phase II of the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program, which is home to the state’s community solar incentives. The order includes updates to crediting procedures, the low-income community solar programs, introduces an integration of community solar and municipal aggregation, and approves credit transfers across load zones in Eversource.