(SEIA) BOSTON — On August 29th, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) issued final SMART 3.0 regulations.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the Alliance for the Climate Transition (ACT), and the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) applaud Governor Healey for taking decisive action through SMART 3.0 to ensure cost-effective solar generation can come online at a time when federal policies and red tape are raising energy prices.
SMART 3.0 demonstrates the Commonwealth’s commitment to protecting ratepayers, supporting local jobs, and meeting growing electricity demand. The Final Regulations and the plans for the initial years of the program clear a path for projects that can leverage the expiring federal tax credits. At a time when we need every electron we can get, solar and storage can come online faster than any other technology and SMART 3.0 will help make that happen.
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration’s release of SMART 3.0 charts a strong path for community and commercial scale solar and storage in Massachusetts and will be critical for driving down energy costs for families,” said Valessa Souter-Kline, SEIA’s Northeast regional director. “We look forward to working with state leaders on implementation to ensure the solar and storage industry continues to create good jobs and can deliver clean, reliable, affordable energy that people across Massachusetts are demanding.”
“With SMART 3.0, Gov. Healey and the DOER team have risen to the occasion to tackle the challenges of our energy system head on,” said Kate Daniel, Northeast Regional Director for CCSA. “Going big on solar now is the best way to unlock affordable, local, clean energy generation for the Commonwealth, while putting savings into the pockets of the energy consumers who need them most.”
“Given the difficult federal climate, it is more important than ever that states step up to play a leading role in strategically crafting thoughtful, targeted programs to unleash clean energy and address rising energy costs,” said Tim Snyder, ACT’s VP of Public Policy and Government Affairs. “That is what the Healey-Driscoll Administration has done with SMART 3.0. We are excited to engage with the legislature and administration to shape legislation that complements these regulations and creates the right landscape for solar projects of all sizes and types, from residential to large arrays.”
The updated program builds on a proven track record while making needed improvements to respond to market conditions on an annual basis, rather than keeping the former rigid pricing structure intact. It addresses implementation challenges raised in the review process to make sure program requirements for site selection and energy storage achieve their intended policy goals. The SMART 3.0 rules aim to better serve low-income customers and improve consumer confidence in solar.
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