March 20, 2026
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is taking steps to build more affordable and reliable energy in the state, ordering an expansion of renewable energy and energy storage by 2035.
The governor signed Executive Order 654 on March 16, setting a goal of bringing 10 GW of new energy sources online over the next decade. The mandate specifies the addition of 4 GW of captive solar and 3.5 GW of demand-side sources such as virtual power plants (VPP), as well as an additional 5 GW of energy storage to be online or contracted by 2035.
“The American people are now paying the price as oil and gas bills skyrocket because of President Trump’s costly war,” Healey said, referring to U.S. military actions in Iran. “I believe in an all-of-the-above approach to energy. That means solar, wind, gas, nuclear and hydropower. While the president is taking American-built energy sources off the table, in Massachusetts we are saying yes to more supply from more energy sources. We are saying yes to American jobs and American energy independence. And we are saying yes to lowering energy bills for everyone.”
Ruthie DeWit, director of state affairs in the northeastern United States Association of Solar Energy Industries (SEIA) applauded Healey’s executive order.
“As energy demand rises and the cost of living becomes increasingly important for Massachusetts residents, every second and every electron counts,” DeWit said. “Our energy supply must keep pace with growing demand to keep electricity costs low for Massachusetts residents. Governor Healey’s executive order addresses this challenge by focusing on building out more solar and storage, the fastest and most affordable forms of energy to add to the grid.”
In addition to bringing more energy resources online, DeWit also highlighted the governor’s directive to “implement common sense interconnection reforms to ensure much-needed projects come online as quickly as possible.”
A comprehensive approach to energy
The executive order that Healey signed contours her comprehensive approach to energy security, setting bold new goals to bring more energy to Massachusetts and lower energy bills. The governor’s directive requires agencies to pursue a range of energy sources and ensure sufficient supply to meet growing demand and lower bills.
The executive order outlines guidelines for state agencies regarding solar, storage, wind, load management, gas, nuclear, and geothermal, resulting in an estimated $10 billion in savings for Massachusetts residents and businesses. Healey signed the order at Lynch Elementary School in Winchester, Massachusetts, which is powered entirely by roof and ground-mounted solar.
Massachusetts currently has 5.8 GW installed solar capacity14th among all states and enough to power more than 960,000 homes in Massachusetts. Massachusetts also has 1 GWh of installed energy storage capacity.
A recent study from SEIA and Synapse Energy Economics found that continuing the state’s leadership in solar and storage will yield more than $313 million in annual consumer savings by 2030 and stronger reliability of the winter grid.
“When we invest in energy in Massachusetts, we are investing in energy jobs in Massachusetts,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “It’s Massachusetts’ gas, solar, offshore wind and electric workers who keep our lights on, homes warm and businesses moving. For many, these are 24/7, 365-day jobs. We need to support our state’s energy supply and the workforce that makes it possible.”
More energy for Massachusetts
ISO New England predicts that electricity consumption could increase by nearly 15 percent by 2035 and 50 percent by 2045, with peak winter electricity demand growing even faster. This is true across the country as demand for electricity rises and the costs of modernizing America’s aging power grid rise.
Healey is directing agencies to take a number of immediate steps to get more affordable energy built in the near future, including:
- Step up efforts to build more solar projects before President Trump ends federal support.
- Expand the possibilities for wind energy, nuclear energy and fusion energy.
- Explore strategies for the storage and delivery of natural gas and other fuels to ensure reliability, avoid unnecessary expenditures and costs, and reduce dependence on imported liquefied natural gas.
- Reduce the costs of geothermal energy for heating and cooling.
- Provide flexible interconnection to make better use of the energy network we already have and to get more energy connected faster and cheaper.
Healey submitted the application Energy Affordability, Independence and Innovation Act in May 2025 to lower energy bills and bring more supply to Massachusetts. The legislation includes a key provision that would give the state more flexibility in purchasing a range of energy sources when costs are lowest, rather than on a rigid schedule that locks ratepayers into high costs.
“Amid a new global conflict that is driving up fossil fuel prices, Governor Healey’s announcement could not be more timely,” said Kate Daniel, Northeast Regional Director, Coalition for Community Access to Solar Energy (CCSA). “Massachusetts needs local, reliable energy that keeps prices low and lights on. Solar energy and energy storage are poised to deliver quickly, affordably and at scale, especially with efforts to streamline processes and reduce red tape.”
Tags: energy affordability, energy storage, Massachusetts, utility scale
