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.
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Clean Energy Standard (310 CMR 7.75)
Table of Contents
News & Updates
November 2022
MassDEP finalized amendments to 310 CMR 7.71: Greenhouse Gas Reporting and 310 CMR 7.75: Clean Energy Standard.
These regulatory changes improve consistency with federal requirements, reflect the GHG reporting program's transition to a new electronic platform, and remove requirements that are burdensome to facilities.
They also add a reporting option for municipally owned electricity sellers and clarify MassDEP authority to require that certain reports be submitted directly to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.
- 310 CMR 7.71 & 7.75: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Amendments
(showing changes) - Background Document
- MassDEP Response to Comments
October 2022
MassDEP finalized amendments to 310 CMR 7.75: Clean Energy Standard that would provide regulated entities with additional certainty on the need to accelerate the schedule for decarbonizing the electricity supply.
- 310 CMR 7.75: Final Clean Energy Standard Amendments (showing changes)
- Background Document
- MassDEP Response to Comments
The agency accepted public comment on the proposed amendments through June 3, 2022.
July 2021
MassDEP proposed amendments to its greenhouse gas emissions reporting amendments at:
- 310 CMR 7.71 to improve consistency with federal requirements, reflect the program's transition to a new electronic reporting platform, and remove requirements that are burdensome to facilities; and
- 310 CMR 7.75 to add a reporting option for municipally-owned electricity sellers and clarify MassDEP authority to require certain reporting be directly to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.
Learn more: 310 CMR 7.71 & 7.75: Proposed Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Amendments
MassDEP accepted public comment on the proposed amendments through August 16, 2021.
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 regulation, an archive of past rulemaking and stakeholder input documents, and both a fact sheet and FAQ on the CES.
Additional Resources for Current Regulation
Open PDF file, 155.59 KB,
Fact Sheet: MassDEP Electricity Sector Regulations
(English, PDF 155.59 KB)
Open PDF file, 289.28 KB,
Frequently Asked Questions: MassDEP Clean Energy Standard
(English, PDF 289.28 KB)
Stakeholder Input
MassDEP is required to complete program reviews of 310 CMR 7.75: Clean Energy Standard and the related 310 CMR 7.74: Reducing CO2 Emissions from Electricity Generating Facilities in 2021.
The agency accepted stakeholder input on the scope of these reviews through May 31, 2021, and has compiled the initial substantive comments it received as of that date. Both documents can be found in Additional Resources below.
Additional Resources for Stakeholder Input
Reporting Forms
To comply with the Clean Energy Standard (CES), a retail seller of electricity must complete and submit the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) annual compliance forms found at the link below.
To qualify as a clean existing generation unit, a retail seller needs to submit the MassDEP Statement of Qualification Application for CES-E Eligible Generators below.
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.