New legislation in Massachusetts could have sweeping effects on the energy sector by streamlining permitting processes and expanding credits for offshore wind.
The new law signed by Gov. Maura Healey (D) last week — the result of months of negotiations with state lawmakers — is one of the broadest energy packages to pass in the Northeast in recent years. It would create more pathways to install electric vehicle chargers and update clean energy standards to include nuclear fusion.
The Bay State’s new law arrives as the U.S. prepares for a U-turn on many energy policies at the federal level. President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office Jan. 20, criticized offshore wind, solar and EVs throughout his campaign. And he has called for rolling back many incentives. In Massachusetts, the new energy looks more in step with the Biden administration’s energy and climate moves over the past four years.
“Accelerating clean energy development will create good jobs, lower costs, attract more businesses to Massachusetts, and grow our climatetech economy,” Healey said in a statement last week.
