By Brooke Thomson
President & CEO 

AIM has for many years supported the migration of energy generation in Massachusetts to renewable sources. But we have always been clear that the shift cannot add to the cost burdens of consumers and business owners who already pay among the highest energy bills in the country. 

That’s why AIM unequivocally supports a new measure introduced by State Rep. Mark Cusack that will make energy more affordable while acknowledging that federal actions will delay the state’s ambitious greenhouse-gas emissions goals. 

Rep. Cusack, co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy has shown the courage to say what we all know – federal cancellation of offshore wind projects and other clean-energy infrastructure means that Massachusetts will not meet its 2030 goal to cut pollution by 50 percent compared with 1990 levels. His bill would re-characterize the greenhouse-gas limits as “advisory” if the state determines that it will fall short of its 2030 objective, due to actions (or inaction) by the federal government.  

The proposal does not affect the 2040 or 2050 reduction goals.  

But the legislation goes far beyond simply facing reality on emissions limits. It addresses the rising energy costs faced by homeowners and businesses and reorients the energy regulatory process to an approach that balances customer pocketbooks with environmental progress. 

The measure creates an affordability and competitiveness standard to which all state entities in the Commonwealth must adhere before implementing any regulation, administrative action, program, procurement requirement, or policy to comply with statewide greenhouse-gas emission limits. 

“No such actions shall take effect unless the entity has determined, based on reasonably available data, that such action will not impose unreasonable adverse impacts on the affordability of energy, utility, or related costs for residential ratepayers; or on the operating costs or economic competitiveness of Massachusetts businesses.” 

Rep. Cusack has made his proposals part of a redraft of legislation originally filed by Governor Maura Healey that sought to moderate energy costs. The House bill goes far beyond the Governor’s proposal, and the bold changes will save rate payers an estimated $7.61 billion over the next 10 years, including an annual $331.7 million in immediate savings.  

Other provisions of Rep. Cusack’s bill include: 

• Makes the Mass Save greenhouse-gas emissions reductions goal, set by the Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary, advisory and non-binding for Mass Save plans through 2030 and requires that they not adversely impact affordability for residents and competitiveness for businesses.
• Makes prudent adjustments to the Mass Save budget primarily by revising the advertising budget. The policy changes create a $327.5 million change to the Mass Save budget over the final two years of the current three-year plan. ($163.75 million in savings per year). The program is then capped at $4 billion for the 2028-2030 three-year plan, and all subsequent plans thereafter ($166 million in savings per year).
• Returns 70% of Alternative Compliance Payments directly to ratepayers ($97 million per year).
• Creates a comprehensive plan to utilize load management ($1.8 billion over the next 10 years).  
• Cuts the increase in the amount of clean energy that utilities must purchase in Massachusetts each year from 3 percent to 1 percent until 2033 ($71 million per year). 

Massachusetts ratepayers suffer from some of the highest energy costs in the nation. At a time when the cost of running a business and raising a family are daunting to employers and families, legislation like this is exactly what the Commonwealth needs to ensure we remain a place where everyone can afford to live, raise a family and open a business. Rep. Cusack’s legislation balances realistic climate policies with real savings that keep the lights on. 

This legislation aggressively addresses the state’s energy cost crisis, but in doing so makes hard choices and cuts to programs supported by the environmental community. Activists have threatened to “fill the statehouse” and mount significant opposition. AIM’s Government Affairs team will be working diligently to support key components in the bill.  

If you are concerned about the cost of energy, we encourage you to contact your local legislator to express support https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator. You may also contact Sam Larson, Vice President of Government Affairs at AIM, slarson@aimnet.org.