Press Release: 6/26/2025
New Analysis: Governor Healey’s Energy Affordability Bill to Save Customers At Least $13.7 Billion
Governor Healey testified in support of her legislation that will get costs off bills, implement an all-of-the-above energy approach, including nuclear, and foster economic development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
6/25/2025
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Karissa Hand, Press Secretary
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BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey today testified in support of her Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act to lower energy bills and bring more energy into Massachusetts. Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper, as well as business organizations, mayors, developers, university leaders, and labor, also testified in support of the legislation.
Alongside its testimony, the administration also provided an independent analysis of the customer savings associated with the bill, expanding on the administration’s assessment by providing more in-depth modeling of more provisions. Conducted by Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. and Sustainable Energy Advantage, LLC, the analysis found that the legislation could save customers at least $13.7 billion over ten years, billions more than the administration’s initial estimates. This is on top of the $6 billion in savings estimated from the Governor’s Energy Affordability Agenda announced in March.
“We’re working on every front to lower costs, from cutting taxes, to building more housing, to lowering your energy bill,” said Governor Healey. “Our legislation gets charges off bills, lowers overall energy costs, and prevents big price swings that families and businesses can’t afford. We’re putting savings back in people’s pockets while continuing to move Massachusetts toward greater energy independence.”
“Our legislation will provide the certainty and affordability that residents and businesses need,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This innovative proposal includes provisions that will allow us to build our energy grid, so homeowners and developers aren’t waiting years to grow their business or get solar on their home. At the same time, we’re getting charges off bills and protecting ratepayers so they’re only paying for what they need.”
“The more energy we build in Massachusetts, the more we can lower energy costs,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “That’s why our administration has been laser-focused on cutting red tape for energy projects and unleashing the full potential of our state’s energy potential. Our legislation establishes a new procurement authority, removes barriers to cutting-edge nuclear power, and gets the energy projects already in the pipeline online faster. This will lower overall costs and grow our energy industry right here in Massachusetts.”
The legislation saves customers money, brings more energy into Massachusetts, and increases accountability of the utilities and drives innovation. Key reforms include eliminating and reducing certain charges on the bill, including phasing out the Alternative Portfolio Standard and reducing the value of net metering credits for new large net metering. The legislation allows for innovative financing for Mass Save and other grid modernization programs, further lowering bills for customers. To bring more energy into Massachusetts, the bill enhances the state’s procurement authority and removes barriers to cutting-edge nuclear technologies. Further, reforms include changes to the interconnection process, new tools to boost geothermal heat loops, and support for Energy Ready Zones to boost housing and other development, while insulating ratepayers.
Statements of Support
JD Chesloff, President & CEO, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable:
"The cost of doing business is one of the greatest challenges our state faces. I thank the Governor for taking on this challenge by advancing innovative concepts like "Energy Ready Zones" to pre-identify sites for development and attract businesses. This will advance our mutual goals of growing our economy and promoting affordable energy."
Kristen Gowin, Executive Manager, National Electrical Contractors Association of Greater Boston:
"NECA electrical contractors and our IBEW workforce are modernizing the grid, electrifying buildings, installing microgrids, deploying battery storage, heat pumps, and more, making our infrastructure more resilient, efficient, and future-ready. We can only truly address the affordability crisis we face, not just in our energy sector, but also in the broader economy if we make the investments necessary to expand the infrastructure required and do so through equitable and responsible energy policy. We applaud the Administration’s provisions in this bill to adopt an all of the above strategy to bring new energy into Massachusetts."
Francis Pullaro, President, RENEW Northeast:
"Clean energy makes electricity more affordable by lowering our reliance on generation from fossil fuels, which are often subject to price spikes. As renewable sources like wind and solar supported by energy storage grow, they offer steady, low-cost energy that benefits households and businesses."
Dano Weisbord, Chief Sustainability Officer, Tufts University:
"Our campuses are mini cities. Like cities, we operate museums, residences, restaurants, labs, police departments and hospitals. As we seek ways to manage energy costs, and decarbonize our campuses, we are often bellwethers for challenges that new policies and regulations will encounter across the Commonwealth. Support for geothermal and flexible interconnection would be transformative for Massachusetts universities. The Energy Affordability, Independence & Innovation Act is a critical next step to enabling regulatory flexibility and access to capital for our institutions and the Commonwealth."
Chrissy Lynch, President, Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
“The Governor's energy agenda will help keep costs down for working families while allowing our state to build up a stronger, safer, cleaner and more resilient energy infrastructure. The workers who have powered our homes and communities for generations are critical to our state’s energy future, and this bill supports those workers while ensuring new clean energy jobs are high-quality, family sustaining careers.”
Jeremy McDiarmid, Managing Director and General Counsel, Advanced Energy United:
“Advanced Energy United appreciates Governor Healey and her administration for confronting the issue of energy affordability through the proposals in this legislation. Like many states, Massachusetts businesses and residents are stressed by high energy bills. There’s no single cost driver behind the rising energy expenses and the Governor’s proposal recognizes that there will not be a single solution to our energy cost challenges. We strongly encourage policymakers to use this legislation as a way to explore innovative policy solutions and smart investments in our energy system.”
Julie Wormser, Chief Climate Officer, Cambridge:
“The Energy Affordability, Independence & Innovation Act is just the latest in a string of outstanding climate bills that are managing energy costs, driving our transition to renewable energy and preparing our people and places for extreme weather. Both this bill and the recently released Mass Ready Act show a real understanding of what communities need to move forward.”
Dennis Carlberg, Chief Sustainability Officer and Associate Vice President for Climate Action, Boston University:
"Boston University, Northeastern, Tufts, Harvard, MIT, and other higher ed members of the Boston Green Ribbon Commission have led the way in constructing new, clean energy to power, heat and cool our buildings, reducing strain on the grid, and lowering emissions. We strongly support the new tools offered under this legislation that would allow us to pursue geothermal and other clean power affordably. The hard work for all of us lies ahead. This Act enables critical partnerships and serves to unlock the capital necessary to cost effectively and equitably build a fossil free future in the Commonwealth."