Press Release  Governor Healey to Solar Industry: Massachusetts is Open for Business

Boston — Governor Maura Healey hosted a “Solar Summit” in Boston today to hear from solar developers, trade associations and labor leaders on how the state can continue to harness the potential of solar to lower costs and attract investment to Massachusetts. Her administration held a series of structured discussions with the industry to take feedback on state programs and identify next steps. 

“Solar is the cheapest and fastest way we can bring more energy into Massachusetts,” said Governor Healey. “Today I stressed to the industry our administration’s commitment to cutting red tape, lowering costs, and getting solar built and online faster to power our homes and businesses. This is our quickest path to lowering electricity costs.” 

“The solar industry employs about 17,000 people in Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These are good-paying, fulfilling jobs that families rely on. Solar workers keep the lights on and the power flowing across our state. We’re committed to standing up programs that will bring much-needed stability to the industry, the people it employs, and the residents and businesses that rely on them.” 

“On the hottest and coldest days of the year, solar is critical to keeping the lights on and costs down,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Solar is a lynchpin of Massachusetts’ all-of-the-above approach to energy. It is absolutely essential we continue to build on our nation-leading solar programs to maintain a reliable and affordable grid as demand goes up, including expanding state procurement authority to include solar and allowing for more flexible interconnection processes. We were grateful to hear from the industry today on ways we can position Massachusetts for more solar investment.” 

Massachusetts Solar Leadership 

For years, Massachusetts has been a nationally recognized leader for solar installations. Solar has transformed the Massachusetts electric grid, saving hundreds, if not billions of dollars of ratepayer funding that would otherwise be invested in more expensive transmission, distribution, and generation.  

During every season, solar plays an important role in the reliability of the Massachusetts grid. On June 24th – the hottest day of 2025 – solar met 22 percent of demand, saving customers $8.2 million dollars on that day alone. This is true in the spring and fall, as well. During the afternoon of April 20, 2025, over 55 percent of New England’s electricity demand was met by distributed solar facilities, bringing grid demand to an all-time low.  

Healey-Driscoll Administration Solar Actions 

Solar development slowed in 2024 as the industry faced challenges related to interconnection, permitting, and inadequate compensation frameworks. The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Legislature has worked to revamp solar development. The administration brokered a historic compromise for siting and permitting reform, which was passed by the Legislature and is now in the process of being implemented, capping permitting timelines to approximately a year while improving community engagement and land use practices. At the same time, the Department of Public Utilities has approved nation-leading Capital Investment Plans, helping accelerate interconnection processes and bring 1.3 GW of solar online expeditiously. And ahead of the signing of the Trump Administration’s federal budget, which ends bipartisan tax credits for solar, the Healey-Driscoll Administration released updated SMART incentives intended to provide stability to the industry and lower electricity costs by $300 million a year. Additionally, the Governor’s Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act would expand the state’s procurement authority to include solar and support flexible interconnection solutions, further accelerating this affordable clean energy source.   

At the Solar Summit, the administration met with industry leaders to discuss possible state actions to support the solar industry, including adjustments to the state’s incentive programs, siting and permitting challenges, land use issues, tax issues, interconnection, workforce issues, and other facets of building more solar in Massachusetts. 

Statements of Support 

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, CEO Dr. Emily Reichert:  

"Massachusetts has long been a leader in harnessing solar to power our communities, grow jobs, and create a cleaner, more reliable energy future. As the federal administration attempts to take this affordable option off the table, we must work together—industry, government, and community partners—to ensure Massachusetts continues to be a place where every resident and business can take advantage of solar's economic benefits. Governor Healey's Solar Summit is an important step in charting a path forward that keeps our momentum strong and positions the state for the next decade of growth.” 

Nick d’Arbeloff, President, Solar Energy Business Association of New England (SEBANE): 

“SEBANE and our members are grateful to the Governor and her team for their strong support of solar energy in the Commonwealth. We look forward to working collaboratively with the administration to accelerate both commercial and residential deployment, and to streamline policies and processes that will enable solar to thrive across Massachusetts.” 

Ryan Murphy, Executive Director, Climate Jobs Massachusetts: 

“Solar generation is critical for meeting our energy needs and lowering utility bills for working families. We have an opportunity to benefit communities not only on the customer end, but also by creating high-road careers for Massachusetts residents. We appreciate the Healey Administration bringing key stakeholders together to find the right way to supercharge this industry, through large-scale development that creates safe, family-sustaining careers and results in high-quality installations and systems.” 

Tom Barry, CEO, Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC):    

“MMWEC is pleased to be at the table with the Commonwealth and stakeholders at this critical juncture and supports efforts to further incentivize solar development at the state level. MMWEC and its Member municipal utilities are strong supporters of solar, as evidenced by several individual projects and MMWEC’s 7-megawatt Cotton Solar Project, which utilizes the benefits of joint action for six participating municipal utilities.” 

Jon Child, Owner, Design & Sales Specialist, PV Squared:  

"PV Squared Solar is proud to join Governor Healey and Massachusetts leaders to advance a solar future that’s affordable, reliable, and community-owned. As a worker-owned cooperative, we see every project as local jobs, lower bills, and cleaner air; proof that climate action and economic resilience go hand in hand. With over 20 years of expertise in residential and commercial solar, as well as research partnerships, we help align permitting, interconnection, and incentives with on-the-ground realities so all Massachusetts residents can access clean, affordable power, and are thrilled to lend our voice and experience to the Commonwealth." 

Sean Burke, Director of Policy, BlueWave Energy: 

"BlueWave appreciates the commitment of the Healey Administration to deploying solar to meet our growing energy needs with clean, affordable supply. We look forward to continued work with the Administration to knock down regulatory barriers and accelerate the deployment of cost-effective solar." 

Kate Daniel, Northeast Regional Director, Coalition for Community Solar Access: 

“Today’s Summit highlights Governor Healey’s commitment to ensuring Massachusetts families and businesses have access to reliable, affordable clean energy. Solar is the lowest-cost, fastest-to-deploy resource we have, and expanding the state’s solar program by 900 megawatts shows the administration understands what it will take to meet demand. This Summit is also an important accountability moment—we need fast timelines and strong follow-through to ensure these commitments translate into real savings, grid stability, and jobs across the Commonwealth.” 

Gregory King, Acting President, Boston Community Solar Cooperative: 

"At the Boston Community Solar Cooperative, we believe in a future powered by the sun and owned by the community. We applaud the numerous solar regulation reforms being advanced by the Healey Administration to ensure that every Massachusetts citizen has access to clean and affordable solar energy regardless of race, language or income."  

Andrew Belden, Eversource Vice President of Renewable Programs and Strategy: 

“Solar energy is a critical piece of the Commonwealth’s all-of-the-above approach to affordable and abundant energy supply and is an increasingly important element of achieving Massachusetts’ decarbonization goals. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Administration and solar stakeholders to reduce barriers to solar deployment so Massachusetts energy consumers can benefit from this important technology.”   

Ben Underwood, Co-CEO, Resonant Energy: 

“Behind-the-meter solar power and energy storage are the fastest ways for affordable housing developers to meet decarbonization goals while cutting operational costs. We appreciate the Healey administration’s leadership and partnership in removing energy costs as a barrier to new housing development.” 

Dan Berwick, CEO, New Leaf Energy:  

“Renewable energy is under unprecedented attack from the Federal government, but Massachusetts has an opportunity to accelerate the deployment of solar in the next five years, in spite of those attacks. Because solar and storage have gotten so much cheaper, and because they’re the fastest to build, they’re the key to affordability in an era of rising electricity demand. Working together with the Healey Administration and our utilities, we can squeeze every last dollar out of the federal ITC while it’s still available and write a new playbook for solar in the post-ITC era.” 

Lindsay Griffin, Northeast Regulatory Director, Vote Solar:  

"Massachusetts has long been a national leader in clean energy, and we appreciate the Governor and her team's commitment to getting us here. Now, working together, we must act quickly and boldly to protect and expand solar. By taking thoughtful action, we can lower costs for families, create good-paying jobs, and ensure every community benefits from a cleaner, more affordable energy future. We look forward to working with the Governor to advance our shared vision of affordable solar in every Massachusetts community.” 
 

Natalie Treat, Senior Director of Policy & Engagement, Alliance for Climate Transition (ACT): 

“We appreciate Governor Healey taking the time to listen to the solar industry on what they need to make it in Massachusetts. And the industry is not monolithic. From residential or commercial rooftop to large community solar and solar paired with storage—we need all the solar power we can get to help reduce reliance on expensive, volatile fossil fuels. This is particularly true with increased demand spurred by electrification of heating and transportation, and the growth of power-hungry data centers. The federal government’s war on home-grown clean energy is costing us jobs, driving up bills, and slowing progress on climate goals. But Massachusetts can continue to lead by reducing upfront investments, timelines and market uncertainty—so that solar developers see the Commonwealth as a good place to do business now, and in the future.” 

Jon Abe, CEO and Co Founder, Sunwealth:  

“The Healey Administration leadership on growing solar and storage in the built environment will support clean, reliable, and affordable electricity for the Commonwealth. SMART 3.0 is an excellent start and Sunwealth looks forward to working with the Administration and the Massachusetts Solar industry to deliver on this potential.” 
 

Andrew Bernstein, Managing Partner, Kearsarge Energy:  

“I thank Governor Healey and her administration for her steadfast commitment to the Commonwealth’s distributed generation renewable energy industry.  With the changes at the Federal level providing more challenges, the Commonwealth’s continuing commitment is critical to the continued success of the industry and provide less expensive long-term energy as well as the Commonwealth’s efforts to meet its statutorily mandated climate change targets.”    

ECA Solar:  

"ECA Solar applauds the Healey-Driscoll Administration for convening state leaders, industry representatives, and community partners to address the challenges facing solar in Massachusetts. By focusing on solutions that improve affordability, streamline project delivery, and strengthen collaboration across utilities, labor, and local communities, the Administration is ensuring the Commonwealth remains a national leader in clean energy while delivering lasting benefits for residents and businesses alike." 

Valessa Souter-Kline, Northeast Regional Director, Solar Industries Association (SEIA): 

“Solar and storage are the fastest and most affordable forms of energy to add to the grid, but these crucial forms of energy are facing a relentless barrage of bad federal policy and red tape – and Massachusettsans’ electricity bills are rising as a result. That’s what makes today’s summit so pivotal. The solar and storage industry applauds the Healey-Driscoll Administration for stepping up where Washington is failing – and SEIA looks forward to continuing to work with Massachusetts’ leaders to ensure that all Commonwealth residents and businesses can enjoy the cost reduction and grid reliability benefits that solar and storage provide.” 

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