Initial Program Development: 2016-2018
DOER designed a new solar incentive program pursuant to Chapter 75 of the Acts of 2016, signed into law on April 11, 2016.
Spring 2016 - Post 1600 MW Solar Incentive Program Report
In February 2016, DOER selected Sustainable Energy Advantage, LLC to complete both an analysis of revenue requirements for solar projects and a comparative evaluation of various types of incentive programs. The results of these analyses can be found in the following report and results:
Developing a Post -1600 E Solar Incentive Program Report.
Effective Incentive Requirement Results
Summer 2016 - Stakeholder Listening Sessions
Taking the results of the report into consideration, DOER began the process of designing a new solar incentive program by conducting two public listening sessions.
Verbal and written comments on the development of the next solar incentive were submitted on the program design. The public comments received through June 30, 2016 can be viewed in the file below.
Post 1600 MW Solar Program Development Comments
Fall 2016 - Next Solar Incentive Straw Proposal
On September 23, 2016, DOER presented its vision for the next generation of solar incentives to the public. The meeting took place at the Federal Reserve Building.
Over the next couple of months, DOER continued to engage with stakeholders in working towards the final design of the program. A copy of the presentation can be found below along with a link to an audio recording of the meeting and related materials.
Next Generation Incentive Straw Proposal
Solar Land Use Guidance and Information
September 23, 2016 Meeting
Next Solar Incentive Straw Proposal Public Comments
Winter 2017 - Next Solar Incentive Final Proposal
On January 31, 2017, DOER presented the final program design to stakeholders at the Federal Reserve Building in Boston.
Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program
January 31, 2017 Meeting
Spring 2017 - Draft SMART Regulations Filed
On Monday, June 5, 2017, DOER filed 225 CMR 20.00, the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program, with the Secretary of the Commonwealth as an emergency regulation.
Following the release of the emergency regulation, DOER held public hearings and accepted written public comments. In the meantime, the following copies of the regulation and accompanying guidelines were available for stakeholder review:
225 CMR 20.00 – SMART Program Emergency Regulation
Summer 2017 - SMART Public Hearings and Public Comments
DOER held three public hearings on the SMART Regulations on July 10-11, 2017. Audio files of those hearings and the public comments received are posted here.
Audio - Public Hearing 1 at Westfield State University 7/10/2017
Audio - Public Hearing 2 at Worcester State University 7/10/2017
Audio - Public Hearing 3 at MassART 7/11/2017
Summer 2017 - RFP for Solar Program Administrator
On July 18, 2017, the electric distribution companies issued an RFP for the Solar Program Administrator responsible for the SMART program. Interested bidders had to be registered within the Eversource “SAP Ariba Sourcing” purchasing system.
RFP for SMART Solar Program Administrator
Summer 2017 - DOER Files Final Regulation with the Secretary of State
On August 11, 2017 DOER filed its proposed final version of the 225 CMR 20.00 Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program regulation with the Secretary of State’s Office. The final version can be found in the State Register.
225 CMR 20.00- SMART Program final regulations
Fall 2017 - DPU Notice of Filing and Request for Comment
On September 12, 2017, the electric distribution companies filed a Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target tariff with the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to implement An Act Relative to Solar Energy.
The DPU created a docket for this petition, D.P.U. 17-140. Details regarding the docket can be found in the DPU file room. To view the docket, enter “17-140” as the docket number.
Winter 2018 - Draft SMART Guidelines Released for Public Comment
On January 22, 2018, DOER released six Guidelines that clarify rules, procedures, and processes under the SMART program pursuant to 225 CMR 20.00. These Guidelines include:
Definition of Agricultural Solar Tariff Generation Units Guideline
Definition of Brownfield Guideline
Energy Storage Adder Guideline
Low Income Generation Units Guideline
Statement of Qualification Reservation Period Guideline
Public comments received on the Guidelines are posted here:
SMART Guideline Public Comments
Winter 2018 - Initial Competitive Procurement
On January 11, 2018, DOER announced the results of the SMART Competitive Procurement. Base Compensation Rates across all services territories are set based on the results of the procurement. Details on the base rates and the results of the procurement can be found in the document below:
Capacity Block, Compensation Rate, and Adder Guideline
The SMART Competitive Procurement
Spring 2018 - SMART Customer Disclosure Forms Released for Public Comment
On March 12, 2018, DOER released three customer disclosure forms for public comment. The forms are required for all systems 25 kW and less applying to the SMART program, and for all customers participating in a Community Shared Solar project.
Community Solar Customer Disclosure Form
Small System Customer Disclosure Form (Third-party owned)
Small System Customer Disclosure Form (Direct Ownership)
Spring 2018 - SMART Storage Working Group
DOER hosted a guided discussion to clarify issues related to the integration of solar + storage facilities in the SMART program. You can view the webinar from the April 13, 2018 meeting below.
A copy of the presentations are also posted here:
SMART Storage Working Group Presentations
Spring 2018 - Final Guidelines and Customer Disclosure Forms Posted
Definition of Agricultural Solar Tariff Generation Units Guideline
Definition of Brownfield Guideline
Low Income Generation Units Guideline
Statement of Qualification Reservation Period Guideline
Community Solar Customer Disclosure Form
Small System Customer Disclosure Form (Third-party owned)
Small System Customer Disclosure Form (Direct Ownership)
Spring 2018 - Updated Program Materials Posted
DOER updated the presentation covering details related to program design and implementation. This presentation reflects changes and updates made since the January 31, 2017 stakeholder presentation that was previously available.
SMART Program Overview Presentation April 26, 2018
Spring 2018 - Calculator for Behind the Meter Systems Posted
DOER created a Value of Energy and Incentive Calculator for Behind-the-Meter facilities. This calculator is intended to be a practical tool to calculate the Value of Energy and fixed incentive compensation rate for behind-the-meter systems. The calculation is based on project type, size, distribution company service territory, customer rate class, and capacity block. This workbook does not necessarily reflect the final tariff value a system will be qualified for, but is meant to be a tool to understand and estimate the value that a particular customer may receive under different scenarios.
Summer 2018 - Energy Storage Guideline and SQA Guideline Drafts Updated
In April, DOER posted the final versions of the SMART Program Guidelines, with the exception of the Energy Storage Guideline. To help facilitate a conversation around ongoing questions regarding the interconnection and operational requirements of energy storage paired with photovoltaics, DOER hosted a one day stakeholder event on April 13, 2018. Following that meeting, DOER has made amendments to the Energy Storage Guideline.
Additionally, DOER has made further amendments to the Statement of Qualification Reservation Period Guideline to clarify the qualification of Solar Tariff Generation Units seeking the Community Shared Storage Adder.
Statement of Qualification Reservation Period Guideline
Public Comments Submitted July 27, 2018
Summer 2018 - Final Storage and SQA Guidelines
DOER finalized the Energy Storage Guideline and the SQA Reservation Period Guideline on September 13, 2018.
400 MW Review: 2019-2020
A summary of the 400 MW Review emergency rulemaking for 225 CMR 20.00.
Summer 2019 - 400 MW Review Straw Proposal & Public Comments
Per 225 CMR 20.07(5), DOER conducted a review of the SMART Program, which began upon the qualification of 400 MW of eligible Solar Tariff Generation Units. The following presentation contains DOER's proposal for changes to be made to the SMART program in 400 MW Review.
Public Comments
400 MW Review Public Comments (zip file)
Fall 2019 - ASTGU Draft Guideline & Public Comments
DOER amended it's Agricultural Solar Tariff Generation Units Guideline to update the eligibility criteria for projects looking to qualify as a dual use Agricultural Solar Tariff Generation Unit. DOER's proposal, made in consultation with the MA Department of Agricultural Resources, can be found in the draft guideline. DOER will be accepting comments on the proposed revisions.
Agricultural Solar Tariff Generation Units Guideline Draft 101519
Comments on Agricultural Solar Tariff Generation Units Guideline
Spring 2020 - Regulations Filed & Virtual Public Hearing
On Tuesday April 14, 2020, DOER filed a revised 225 CMR 20.00, the SMART Program, with the Secretary of the Commonwealth as an emergency regulation. This regulatory update was the result of DOER’s review of the SMART Program and engagement with stakeholders, which began upon the qualification of 400 MW of eligible Solar Tariff Generation Units. The regulations went into effect immediately. Below are the links to the SMART emergency regulations and three key regulatory guidelines.
225 CMR 20.00 – SMART Program Emergency Regulation - Redline
225 CMR 20.00 – SMART Program Emergency Regulation - Clean
Guideline on Capacity Blocks, Base Compensation Rates, and Compensation Rate Adders
Statement of Qualification Reservation Period Guideline
Guideline Regarding Land Use, Siting, and Project Segmentation
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, DOER held a virtual public hearing on the regulations and guidelines on May 22, 2020 from 10am to 12pm. A recording from the hearing can be found below.
225 CMR 20.00 Virtual Public Hearing
Written comments were accepted on the SMART regulation and key guidelines until 5 PM on May 22, 2020.
To account for updates made in the SMART Program, the SMART application portal was temporarily closed to new applications. Applications submitted and deemed complete prior to April 15, 2020 continued to be processed. The application portal continued to accept change requests and extension requests for existing applications. DOER anticipated it would begin accepting new applications at 12:00 PM ET on May 18, 2020.
All applications received through 11:59 PM ET on May 22, 2020 were considered as having been submitted at the same time for the purposes of determining placement in a Capacity Block.
- Applications for facilities less than or equal to 25 kW AC will be reviewed and placed into Capacity Blocks in the order that their contract was executed.
- Applications for facilities greater than 25 kW AC will be reviewed and placed into Capacity Blocks in the order that their Interconnection Services Agreement was executed.
All applications received on or after 12:00 AM ET May 23, 2020 were reviewed and placed into Capacity Blocks on a first come, first served basis.
Spring 2020 - Technical Amendment & Virtual Tutorial Scheduled
DOER identified a typographical error requiring a technical correction for the calculation of the BTM incentive in 225 CMR 20.08(3). The technical correction inserted the 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑘𝑊ℎ 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔e into the formula, consistent with the calculation originally proposed in the SMART Program 400 MW Review. Below is the revised formula with emphasis added on the correction.
Additionally, DOER clarified that 225 CMR 20.08(3) applies to projects that receive a Statement of Qualification after the Publication Date, and are not compensated as a Class I Net Metering Facility, Class II Net Metering Facility, or Class III Net Metering Facility. Existing applications will be processed according to the Statement of Qualification Reservation Period Guideline. This would be clarified further through the emergency regulatory rulemaking process.
Virtual Tutorial
On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, DOER held a virtual tutorial. The purpose of the tutorial was for DOER to share information with the public about the regulations and guidelines that have been released. A recording of the virtual tutorial can be found below. The virtual tutorial was separate from the regulatory required public hearing that is scheduled on Friday, May 22, 2020, from 10AM – 12PM.
Virtual Public Tutorial on SMART Emergency Regulations (Webinar Recording)
Virtual Public Tutorial on SMART Emergency Regulations (Presentation)
Spring 2020 - Application Portal Re-Opening
On May 18, 2020, the application portal for the SMART program reopened at masmartsolar.com. Applicants were now be able to submit new applications in the portal. The application provided prompts to help applicants determine which rules may apply to the Solar Tariff Generation Unit submitting a Statement of Qualification Application. Please submit any questions on the application to MA.SMART@clearesult.com or DOER.SMART@mass.gov.
Summer 2020 - Guideline Public Comment Period
In addition to the three Guidelines already out for public comment, DOER made adjustments to a number of existing SMART Guidelines, and created new Guidelines to clarify changes made in the SMART Emergency Regulations. DOER accepted comment on these Guidelines through Thursday June, 18, 2020, by 5 PM. Comments were be submitted to DOER.SMART@mass.gov with the subject “SMART Guideline Comments”.
Existing Guidelines
Guideline Regarding the Definition of “Brownfield”
Guideline Regarding the Definition of "Brownfield" - Redline
Guideline on Establishing SMART Compensation Rates
Guideline on Establishing SMART Compensation Rates - Redline
Guideline on Energy Storage - Redline
Guideline Regarding Low Income Generation Units
Guideline Regarding Low Income Generation Units - Redline
New Guidelines
Guideline on SMART Consumer Protection
Guideline Regarding Metering of Solar and Energy Storage Systems
Summer 2020 - Guideline Stakeholder Sessions
As part of the Emergency Rulemaking process for 225 CMR 20.00, DOER hosted two working group sessions to discuss two specific Guidelines. These meetings were intended to help clarify DOER’s policy in crafting these guidelines, answer questions, generate discussion, and help stakeholders in developing their comments on these Guidelines. Note: The public comment period for these Guidelines was extended and the deadline was now June 29, 2020.
Guideline on SMART Consumer Protection:
Tuesday, June 9, 2020 | 1:00 PM- 3:00 PM
SMART Consumer Protection Stakeholder Session (Webinar Recording)
SMART Consumer Protection Stakeholder Session (Presentation Slides)
Guideline Regarding Alternative Programs for Community Shared Solar Tariff Generation Units and Low-Income Community Shared Solar Tariff Generation Units:
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 | 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM
SMART Alternative Programs for CSS and LICSS (Webinar Recording)
SMART Alternative Programs for CSS and LICSS (Presentation Slides)
Summer 2020 - Emergency Regulation Public Comment Period Extended
In response to industry requests, DOER extended the comment period on the changes made in 225 CMR 20.00. The deadline for submitting written comments was now Monday, June 1, 2020, by 5pm.
The written comment extension also applied to the following Guidelines, which DOER currently had out for comment:
Statement of Qualification Reservation Period Guideline
Guideline on Capacity Blocks, Base Compensation Rates, and Compensation Rate Adders
Guideline Regarding Land Use, Siting, and Project Segmentation
Emergency Regulation Public Comments
SMART Emergency Regulation Public Comments (zip file)
Summer 2020 - Guideline Public Comment Period Extended
In response to industry requests, DOER extended the comment period on several Guidelines that were changed as part of the emergency regulation rulemaking process for 225 CMR 20.00. The written comment extension applied to the following Guidelines, which DOER currently had out for comment:
Existing Guidelines
Guideline Regarding the Definition of “Brownfield”
Guideline Regarding the Definition of "Brownfield" - Redline
Guideline on Establishing SMART Compensation Rates
Guideline on Establishing SMART Compensation Rates - Redline
Guideline on Energy Storage - Redline
Guideline Regarding Low Income Generation Units
Guideline Regarding Low Income Generation Units - Redline
New Guidelines
Guideline on SMART Consumer Protection
Guideline Regarding Metering of Solar and Energy Storage Systems
Revised Customer Disclosure Forms
Community Solar Customer Disclosure Form
Small System Customer Disclosure Form (Third-party Ownership)
Small System Customer Disclosure Form (Direct Ownership)
The deadline for submitting written comments for these guidelines was now Monday, June 29, 2020, by 5pm.
Guideline Public Comments
SMART Guideline Public Comments
Summer 2020 - Final Regulations
On July 10, 2020, DOER filed the final version of the SMART Regulations, 225 CMR 20.00, with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Below, you can find the updated regulations as filed.
Fall 2020 - Final Guidelines
On October 8, 2020, DOER published final versions of the following Guidelines:
Guideline on SMART Consumer Protection
Statement of Qualification Reservation Period Guideline
Guideline on Establishing SMART Compensation Rates
Guideline Regarding Land Use, Siting, and Project Segmentation
Guideline Regarding Low Income Generation Units
Guideline Regarding Alternative Programs for CSS and LICSS Solar Tariff Generation Units
SMART Programmatic Review: 2023-2025
DOER conducted a review of the SMART program. The primary areas of focus of the review included, but were not limited to:
- Evaluation of current solar costs and project revenue requirements across sectors
- Evaluation of potential SMART program improvements
The review resulted in the SMART 3.0 program iteration.
Winter 2023 - Initial Stakeholder Feedback
To help inform the SMART review, DOER solicited responses from SMART stakeholders and the public on a series of stakeholder questions. DOER accepted comments between December 21, 2023 to February 9, 2024. Comments received by DOER are available for review below:
SMART Review Comments - February 2024
Summer 2024 - Straw Proposal Webinar and Technical Sessions
The following dates served as opportunities to engage with DOER on the SMART Straw Proposal and provide input for consideration prior to the regulatory rulemaking process. Additional opportunities for feedback will occur during the regulatory process. Attendees were able to request language interpretation for each session below.
- On July 10th, DOER held a webinar with a presentation of the SMART Straw Proposal where stakeholders learned about proposed policy changes and could submit questions for clarification. View the SMART Straw Proposal Webinar Recording.
On July 22nd and 23rd, DOER held in-person technical sessions at the Connolly Center in the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 600 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210, to collect stakeholder feedback on the SMART Straw Proposal. The sessions were divided into topic areas, and attendees could register for individual sessions.
DOER requested that each organization only send one representative per session. The schedule for the sessions was:
7/22 Morning (9:30 am - noon) - Program structure and process
7/22 Afternoon (1pm - 4pm) - Equity, consumer protection, and compliance
7/23 Morning (9:30 am - noon) - Adders eligibility
7/23 Afternoon (1pm - 4pm) - Environmental protection and agrivoltaics- On July 29th, DOER held a virtual technical session for stakeholders who were unable to attend the in-person sessions. The same content was covered at both the in-person and virtual sessions, so attendance was only necessary at one.
Summer 2024 - SMART Straw Proposal
The 2024 SMART Straw Proposal was published by DOER on July 10, 2024.
Following the SMART technical sessions, DOER published the Straw Proposal with clarifications.
View the 2024 SMART Straw Proposal in Spanish (Español), Portuguese (Português, Brasil), Chinese (简体中文), Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt), Haitian Creole (Kreyòl ayisyen), and Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu di Cabo Verde).
August 2, 2024 was the deadline for Stakeholder feedback on the Straw Proposal for anyone that did not attend the in-person technical sessions or the virtual webinar.
The 2024 Straw Proposal is based on an quantitative and qualitative analysis conducted by Sustainable Energy Advantage, LLC. Both reports outlining these analyses can be seen below.
DOER is currently in the process of drafting regulations and additional opportunities for feedback will occur during the regulatory process.
Evaluation of Solar Costs and Needed Incentive Levels Across Sectors from 2025-2030
Evaluation of Potential SMART Program Improvements
Winter 2024 - SMART Land Use Technical Session
On December 10, 2024, DOER hosted a virtual technical session to present the updated framework for Land Use and Siting Policy under the SMART program and collect initial feedback from stakeholders.
Spring 2025 - Emergency Regulation Filing
On June 20th, 2025, DOER filed emergency regulations for the SMART 3.0 Program with the Secretary of State's Office, under 225 CMR 28.00. DOER also filed minor changes to the existing regulation, 225 CMR 20.00, to accommodate for the program transition and create an end date for eligibility under the current program.
Visit the SMART 3.0 webpage for complete information on the emergency regulations and public comment process.