Massachusetts House Affordability Bill Advances Smart Reforms to Expand Grid Flexibility and Lower Energy Costs  

House Bill 5151 is an iteration of Gov. Maura Healey’s original 2025 affordability package  

BOSTON, MA –  Today, the Massachusetts House passed a comprehensive energy bill aimed at tackling affordability issues in the Commonwealth.  House Bill 5151 builds on Gov. Healey’s proposal to bring cost effective clean energy online and increase grid reliability.

“Ready-to-deploy advanced energy technologies are the path to affordable power,” said Kat Burnham, Massachusetts Policy Lead at Advanced Energy United. “One of the best ways to make energy affordable is to get more out of our existing power grid. Massachusetts needs more energy to keep up with growing demand, and these solutions will unlock the lowest-cost way to get that energy.”

House Bill 5151 offers impactful solutions to mitigate rising utility bills for residents and businesses across the Commonwealth. The bill will remove barriers and open pathways for deployment of energy storage, solar, offshore wind, and other advanced resources that will help control rising supply costs.

“We appreciate the leadership from the legislature on this important issue, particularly House Speaker Mariano, Rep. Michlewitz, and Rep. Cusack, and we look forward to working with the Senate to get this bill across the finish line,” added Burnham.

By supporting virtual power plants, enabling surplus interconnection, creating flexible interconnection pathways, and preserving net metering certainty for projects already in development, the legislation will help unlock lower-cost clean energy while making smarter use of the grid Massachusetts already has.