CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Feb 27, 2026)—As dramatic spikes in energy consumption due to yet another winter storm reminds Bay State residents of the impact of volatile energy prices, a new bill passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives late last night seeks to address rising electricity costs. The bill reaffirms the state’s decarbonization commitments by advancing solar power, offshore wind and energy storage deployment. Despite the many provisions to advance the state’s clean energy economy, however, the legislation cuts funding for the widely popular Mass Save energy efficiency program, which has saved residents over $34 billion since 2012. It also repeals voters’ long-standing right to approve or deny new nuclear power projects. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Below is a statement by Paula García, senior manager of energy justice research and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
“High electricity prices are exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis in Massachusetts and people deserve relief from steadily rising energy bills. This bill invests in proven strategies to bolster energy affordability through increased support of solar and storage as well as the state’s world class offshore wind resources. It also better integrates the role that virtual power plants will play in generating significant cost-savings and protects ratepayers from subsidizing data centers, which are driving up costs—and pollution—across the country.
“Yet this bill could be bolder. Massachusetts residents deserve more robust, equity-centered solutions from the legislature’s flagship energy affordability bill. Cutting funding for Mass Save, an energy efficiency program that has saved ratepayers tens of billions of dollars, represents a misguided scapegoating of a nation-leading program that should instead be bolstered by this bill. Repealing the nuclear power moratorium will likely increase electricity prices if new experimental nuclear reactors are approved as they’ve proven to be significantly costlier than renewable technologies and energy efficiency.
“We are counting on the Senate to correct these missteps and strengthen provisions for smartly planned clean energy deployment that addresses historical inequities. Massachusetts ratepayers also need stronger protections from price increases due to continued spending on costly and polluting oil and gas, which must be rapidly phased out for a truly affordable future.”