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2026 Maine Senate Race
Massachusetts Accelerates Solar and Storage
Coverage from Union of Concerned Scientists, Environment America, and others
Articles
17
Active Days
109
The Topic
Massachusetts is expanding solar, battery storage, electric vehicle infrastructure, and other clean energy measures as the state responds to rising electrification needs and climate goals. Reports and local initiatives highlight substantial technical potential for behind-the-meter solar and storage, particularly in environmental justice neighborhoods, while large projects such as the Medway battery demonstrate growing grid-scale capacity. Progress is accompanied by barriers involving permitting, energy-efficiency funding, equitable access, market revenues, and battery fire safety.
First Article: 03/23/26
Latest Article: 07/09/26
Summary
- Massachusetts generated the equivalent of 13% of consumed electricity from solar, wind, and geothermal sources in 2025, up from 4% in 2016.
- A Massachusetts analysis estimates 40 GW of technically suitable behind-the-meter storage paired with solar, compared with 157 MW of existing capacity.
- Environmental justice neighborhoods are estimated to contain 31.3 GW of behind-the-meter solar potential and 13.4 GW of paired storage potential.
- The 250 MW Medway battery is now New England's largest operating battery, while a 700 MW project in Everett is planned for 2028 or 2029.
- Amherst is combining EV charging, heat pump incentives, efficient buildings, and local rules supporting solar and storage as part of its carbon-neutrality effort.
- State and local advocates are calling for faster solar permitting and protection of energy-efficiency programs amid proposed MASS Save reductions.
- Battery fire incidents have prompted more than 50 U.S. municipalities to ban or pause storage projects, increasing pressure for stronger safety standards and emergency preparedness.
History
The update sharpens the story by adding a concrete operating milestone for the Medway battery and replacing broad concerns with more specific policy and safety pressures. It also reframes the statewide storage and equity picture with updated technical potential and capacity figures.
The story has broadened from a storage-permitting and safety debate into a wider clean-energy transition narrative, with much more emphasis on distributed solar, electrification, and equity. It now includes concrete 2025 generation figures, major new battery projects, and fresh concerns about permitting, funding, and market viability.
Featured
Timeline: 109 Days
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