Massachusetts Green Power Purchasing Commitment
Massachusetts' Clean Energy Standard requires electricity suppliers to procure an increasing percentage of power from clean sources—starting at 16% in 2018 and rising 2% annually to reach 80% by 2050—which supports renewable energy development and may help moderate long-term electricity costs. This standard applies statewide and affects all residential customers through their utility's compliance obligations.
This program does not directly incentivize contractors; rather, it creates market demand by requiring utilities to procure clean energy resources. Contractors developing solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, or other eligible renewable technologies may find increased opportunities as suppliers meet escalating procurement targets through projects like the SMART solar program (3,200 MW target via declining tariffs) and offshore wind solicitations (3,200 MW by 2035).
The Clean Energy Standard and related mechanisms (RPS, Solar Carve-Out, SMART program) create binding procurement requirements for retail electricity suppliers and utilities. The RPS obligation increases 2% annually through 2029 to reach 35% by 2030; CES rises 2% annually from 2018 toward 80% in 2050. Programs target all eligible renewable and clean generation technologies statewide. Funding flows through utility procurement contracts rather than direct rebates. Key initiatives include 3,200 MW offshore wind by 2035 and 9.45 TWh/year clean energy through projects like the New England Clean Energy Connect.
Program details
- Program ID
- 3000
- Last updated
- 3/23/2026
Eligibility
- Sectors
- state government
- Technologies
- geothermal electric solar thermal electric solar photovoltaics wind (all) biomass hydroelectric municipal solid waste combined heat & power fuel cells using non-renewable fuels landfill gas tidal wave ocean thermal wind (small) hydroelectric (small) anaerobic digestion fuel cells using renewable fuels other distributed generation technologies
Program summary
Clean Energy Standard (CES) and CES-E: The CES sets a minimum percentage of electricity sales that retail electricity suppliers must procure from new clean energy sources beyond the RPS requirements. The CES began in 2018 at 16% and increases 2% annually to 80% in 2050. The CES-E applies to clean generating resources that pre-existed the RPS and is 20% for 2021.
Solar Carve-Out (SCO) & Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART): As part of the RPS, the SCO program, initiated in 2010 and expanded in 2014, requires electricity suppliers to meet a portion of the RPS obligation through solar energy. To further support the growth of solar and reduce ratepayer costs, Massachusetts launched the SMART program in 2018 to incentivize the development of 3,200 MW of new solar generating capacity via a declining block tariff.
Massachusetts Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS): The RPS requires retail electricity suppliers to procure an annually increasing percentage of the power they provide to end-use customers from qualified renewable sources. RPS compliance is divided into classes and sub-classes, including Class I (new renewables), Class II (existing renewables), and Class II (waste-to-energy). Beginning in 2020, the RPS obligation was modified from a 1% increase to a 2% increase per year until 2029, resulting in a minimum obligation of 35% renewables by 2030.
An Act to Promote Energy Diversity: In Chapter 188 of the Acts of 2016, An Act to Promote Energy Diversity, the Commonwealth established ambitious targets for clean energy procurement. The Act required utilities to solicit a total of 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind by 2027, which is currently under contract to be filled with the Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind offshore wind projects. The offshore wind procurement target was increased in 2019 to 3,200 megawatts by 2035. The Act further required the EDCs to competitively solicit 9.45 TWh per year of clean energy generation, which was successfully contracted through the New England Clean Energy Connect project for Canadian hydroelectric generation.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- Natalie.Andrews@MassMail.State.MA.US
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
