A sweeping Mass. Senate energy bill pledges billions in savings, while protecting Mass Save

With voters increasingly squeezed by high prices at gas stations, grocery stores, and doctors’ offices, Democrats in the Massachusetts Senate on Wednesday took aim at another pain point: soaring utility bills.

The legislation comes in response to Governor Maura Healey’s so-called energy affordability agenda that she announced in March 2025. In February, the House passed its own version of the legislation.

Unlike the House, the Senate would preserve the embattled Mass Save program, which is the state’s primary tool for transitioning homes off fossil fuels but which comes with hefty costs borne by ratepayers.

Climate advocates who had seen summaries of the Senate bill applauded its approach, while recognizing its patchwork nature matches the complexity of the challenge.

“Wonky problems need wonky solutions, and I think a lot of what’s in this bill goes to that,” said Kyle Murray, Massachusetts program director at the Acadia Center. In particular, Murray said he appreciated how the Senate bill takes aim at utility spending and at third-party competitive suppliers, while protecting Mass Save funding levels.

To read the full article from Boston Globe, click here.