RGGI Auction Proceeds & Investments

Summary of amount of money raised through the RGGI Auctions as part of the multi-state Trading Program.

Massachusetts is one of the lead states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation's first market-based, regulatory program to cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large fossil-fueled power plants. 

Auction Proceeds

Based on the Green Communities Act of 2008, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has directed the vast majority of the Commonwealth’s RGGI proceeds into the state’s nation-leading energy efficiency programs delivered statewide by the state’s utilities and energy efficiency service providers through Mass Save®, and the Green Communities Designation and Grant Program for cities and towns. These programs and initiatives are fueling a cleaner energy future for the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts has received $966,620,938.14 since 2008.

Massachusetts Most Recent RGGI Auction Proceeds

Date	Allowances	Clearing Price	Auction Proceeds	Auction #
24-March	3,236,622	$16.00	$51,785,952.00	Auction 63
23-Dec	2,783,613	$14.88	$41,420,161.44	Auction 62
23-Sep	2,228,337	$13.85	$30,862,467.45	Auction 61
23-June	2,228,337	$12.73	$28,366,730.11	Auction 60
23-March	2,228,337	$12.50	$27,854,212.50	Auction 59

*2014 Program changes included the creation of Cost Containment Reserve (CCR) of allowances that are only available for sale if CO2 allowance prices exceed certain price thresholds: $4 in 2014, $6 in 2015, $8 in 2016, and $10 in 2017, rising 2.5% each year thereafter.   

Massachusetts Auction Results 2008-Present (excel spreadsheet)

All RGGI States Auction Results

RGGI Investments

From 2008-2022, Massachusetts received more than $776 million in proceeds from the RGGI Auctions.  In 2021 Massachusetts invested $30 million, and $576.5 million since 2008, into energy programs designed to lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions. An additional $62.6 million has been committed for 2022 and future programs. For more information on Massachusetts' and other participants' investments of RGGI benefits, see RGGI, Inc.’s June 2023 Report The Investment of RGGI Proceeds in 2021.

The charts below reflect updated energy efficiency spending that was not included in the published report.

Additional Resources

An independent research project of the Economic Impacts of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on Nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States (2015-2017)

The Economic Impacts of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on Ten Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States (PDF)

The Investment of RGGI Proceeds Through 2014 (PDF)

Investment of RGGI Proceeds in 2015 (PDF)

Investment of RGGI Proceeds in 2016 (PDF)

Investment of RGGI Proceeds in 2017 (PDF)

Investment of RGGI Proceeds in 2018 (PDF)

Investments of RGGI Proceeds in 2019 (PDF)

Investments of RGGI Proceeds in 2020 (PDF)

Investments of RGGI Proceeds in 2021 (PDF)