Bill > H4044

This bill aims to promote the deployment of solar energy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Establishing a "solar opportunity zones" initiative as part of the Green Communities program to identify preferred areas for ground-mounted solar development, provide incentives to communities and utilities to facilitate solar deployment in these zones, and minimize land use conflicts. 2. Setting minimum annual targets for solar photovoltaic installations, starting at 550 megawatts in 2023 and increasing by at least 50 megawatts per year until 2027, with the goal of continuing progress toward the state's 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target. 3. Requiring the Department of Public Utilities to establish alternative rates for different solar project sizes and customer types to enable the financing and deployment of new residential, commercial, and community solar projects. 4. Implementing new programs to address barriers to clean energy adoption, including increasing low-income participation, co-locating solar with agriculture, balancing clean energy and open space preservation, and addressing environmental justice concerns. 5. Mandating that new buildings and existing large commercial buildings incorporate solar generation facilities to serve at least 50% of their electrical load, with options for off-site compliance. 6. Coordinating the transition between the existing solar incentive program and the new alternative rate system, and commissioning a study on the costs and benefits of distributed generation resources.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H4044