WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SD 3237

An Act to remove the 10 MW net metering cap on each municipality

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Removes the 10 MW cap on net metering for municipalities and government entities, enabling larger public-sector solar projects while keeping other net metering rules intact.

Referred to the committee on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 3237

Summary of Senate Docket No. 3237 (SD 3237)

Title and Purpose

  • Bill: An Act to remove the 10 MW net metering cap on each municipality
  • Introduced: October 2, 2025
  • Status: Referred to the Rules Committee of the two branches, acting concurrently
  • Sponsorship: Presented by Sen. Michael J. Barrett

The bill seeks to remove the existing cap that limits net metering generating capacity for municipalities and other governmental entities.

What the bill does

  • Main change: The bill amends a provision of Chapter 164, Section 139, Subsection (f), by striking the sentence that currently states:
    “The maximum amount of generating capacity eligible for net metering by a municipality or other governmental entity shall be 10 megawatts.”
  • Effect of change: There would be no statutory 10 MW cap on net metering capacity for municipalities or other governmental entities. In other words, the per-municipality cap on net metering eligibility would be removed, allowing larger net metering projects subject to remaining applicable rules.

Key provisions and scope

  • Amendment type: Simple statutory amendment to a specific line in the General Laws (Chapter 164, §139, f).
  • Scope of impact: Applies to municipalities and other governmental entities pursuing net metering projects. The bill does not propose new caps, credits, or formulas beyond removing the 10 MW limit.
  • Preserved rules: All other net metering requirements, eligibility criteria, interconnection standards, crediting mechanisms, and related program rules remain as currently written, except for the removal of the 10 MW cap.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Massachusetts municipalities (cities, towns) and other governmental entities that generate electricity through net metering projects.
  • Ancillary effects: Utilities (e.g., investor-owned or municipal utilities) and solar developers involved in public sector projects could engage in larger net metering installations; ratepayers and non-governmental net metering participants could be affected indirectly through changes in project economics and crediting dynamics.

Procedural and timeline context

  • Status: In committee; specifically referred to the Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently.
  • Next steps: Committee review and potential subsequent action (amendments, hearings, votes) before advancing to the full Senate and House for consideration.
  • Notes: The text provided is a short amendment; no effective date is indicated within the excerpt.

Bottom line

SD 3237 proposes removing the statutory 10 MW cap on net metering for municipalities and other governmental entities, enabling potentially larger public-sector solar and net metering projects, while leaving existing net metering program rules otherwise intact.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.