Acadia Center Provides Comments on Opportunities to Strengthen the Massachusetts Clean Energy Standard (CES), Deliver New Renewables Faster and More Affordably for the Region

In these comments to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Acadia Center provides recommendations and reactions to several options for strengthening the Clean Energy Standard (CES), as outlined in a Discussion Document from the Department late in 2023. We argue that Massachusetts has the opportunity to evolve the CES into an even more meaningful driver of clean energy with a focus on additionality and affordability. Drawing from best practices around the region, we focus our recommendations on the benefits of long-term planning, regional and interregional coordination, and competitive procurements to drive these imperatives of additionality (new clean resources) and affordability (at lower costs) for ratepayers in the Commonwealth.