Massachusetts passes bill to speed clean energy and slow gas expansion

Adding geothermal to their toolkit ​“provides a window for [gas utilities] to expand their business, but in a non-polluting way,” said Mark Dyen, part of the steering team at Gas Transition Allies, a coalition focused on reducing methane emissions in the state.

If gas utilities wish to expand their service or build new pipelines, the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will now be required to evaluate whether expansion furthers the Commonwealths’ climate goals or creates stranded assets with high costs for ratepayers, and whether an alternative to gas service could be provided that still offers substantially similar service.

“We’re now saying ​‘the gas system is not here forever. We are moving off of it,’” Dyen said. ​“It doesn’t stop gas company expansion, but it certainly puts an entirely new lens on it.”

Since 2014, utilities in Massachusetts have been replacing and repairing leaky gas pipes in an effort to reduce methane emissions and improve safety. Now, the DPU has the option to not just approve the repair or replacement of a gas pipe, but to recommend that utilities retire a gas pipe, taking it offline completely.

In 2021, the DPU updated its mission to include promoting equity and greenhouse gas emission reductions, in addition to safety, security, reliability, and affordability. ​“I think this DPU takes that mission seriously. And so I’m confident they will take these updated provisions seriously,” said Kyle Murray, director of state program implementation at the Acadia Center.

Other sections of the bill set electric vehicle charging efficiency standards, remove barriers to EV chargers in condo associations, require the DPU to look into installing chargers on electric poles, and clarify legislative authority for the DPU to order differential utility rates based on customers’ income.

Even with all the new changes, ​“I do think we’re behind where we would want to be in 2024,” Peale Sloan said. In the next legislative session, she hopes to see another climate bill move forward that makes public transit more attractive and affordable and prevents new fossil fuel equipment from being installed.

“I think it’s critical that we continue in this environment where we’re not going to be able to look to the federal government for help for a while,” Peale Sloan said. ​“We have to focus on creating a livable and affordable Massachusetts and getting off fossil fuels is a critical step towards that.”