Mass. House, Senate Poised for Negotiations Over Sweeping Energy Bill

As Massachusetts nears the conclusion of its official legislative session at the end of July, members of the state Senate and House face a difficult proposition of reconciling two omnibus energy bills that could have major effects on clean energy development.

Both proposals are billed as efforts to address energy affordability. House leadership claimed their bill would save consumers more than $9 billion over 10 years, while the Senate said its would save more than $14 billion.

The bills contain major differences in how they would achieve these savings. Efficiency funding and gas system investment have emerged as potential sticking points in negotiations.

Despite the high-profile differences, there is significant overlap between provisions included in both bills. These include language affecting interconnection, power procurements, competitive retail supply reforms and scrutiny of spending on transmission asset condition upgrades.

Apart from the proposed cut to Mass Save, “I think we’re in a strong position,” said Kyle Murray of the Acadia Center. “I’m hopeful we’ll see a case of taking the best pieces of each of these bills and working them into a final package.”

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