The Clean Energy Standard (CES) requires retail electricity sellers to annually demonstrate the use of clean energy to generate a specified percentage of their electricity sales.
Guide Clean Energy Standard (310 CMR 7.75)
Table of Contents
Amendments
MassDEP finalized amendments to the Clean Energy Standard in July 2020. The agency held public hearings on October 30, 2019, in Boston and October 31, 2019, in Worcester, and accepted public comment through November 12, 2019.
Additional Resources for Amendments
Current Regulation
310 CMR 7.75: The Clean Energy Standard was finalized in August 2017 and amended in both December 2017 and July 2020.
See Additional Resources below for 310 CMR 7.00: Air Pollution Control, which includes the current CES regulation, as well as a fact sheet and FAQ.
Additional Resources for Current Regulation
Stakeholder Input
MassDEP and the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs have conducted reviews of options for expanding the Clean Energy Standard. These reviews have included publication of stakeholder discussion documents, several stakeholder meetings, and submission of numerous stakeholder comments. See below for pre-proposal stakeholder documents and comments.
Additional Resources for Stakeholder Input
Rulemaking History
310 CMR 7.75: The Clean Energy Standard was finalized in August 2017.
Electricity Sector Response to Comment
310 CMR 7.75: The Clean Energy Standard was previously amended in December 2017.
Reporting Forms
To comply with the Clean Energy Standard (CES), a retail seller of electricity needs to:
- Complete and submit the RPS/APS/CES Annual Compliance Workbook to the Department of Energy Resources (DOER), and
- If requesting an exemption for electricity sold under contracts executed before August 11, 2017, submit the form and associated Excel workbook in Additional Resources below to MassDEP by July 1, 2020. These suppliers must also have submitted an initial filing by December 31, 2017.
Additional MassDEP forms, including the statement of qualifications form for clean generation units, are under development.
Additional Resources for Reporting Forms
Supplemental Information
See Additional Resources below to learn more about programs and issues related to 310 CMR 7.75: Clean Energy Standard.