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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1802 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3144
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Blais
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act promoting solar energy canopies on large parking lots.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin1/18/2023Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/20/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/20/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/25/2023Aaron L. Saunders7th Hampden1/26/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/27/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1802 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3144
By Representative Blais of Deerfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3144) of
Natalie M. Blais and others for legislation to promote solar energy canopies on large parking
lots. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act promoting solar energy canopies on large parking lots.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2section 28 the following section:-
3 Section 29. (a) The office, in coordination with the department of energy resources, shall
4establish a program to encourage the construction and operation of solar power generating
5canopies over large parking lots. The program shall be designed to contribute to the state's
6greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements and increase overall renewable energy
7generation, as well as provide shade and weather protection to both the vehicles under the
8canopies and people moving from their cars into the buildings served by the parking lot.
9 (b) The program shall include:
10 (i) incentives to encourage the construction and operation of solar power generating
11canopies and co-located energy storage facilities, which may include construction requirements,
12incentive payments, tax reductions or deferrals, expedited interconnection requirements, zoning 2 of 3
13or other regulatory preferences, which may include increasing the amount of the incentive
14through the state’s current or future solar incentive program for solar panels mounted on parking
15lot canopies; or other financial or regulatory incentives;
16 (ii) a definition of qualifying parking lots, which may be phased in over time;
17 (iii) minimum electric generation capacity requirements; and
18 (iv) such other criteria and conditions necessary for an efficient and effective solar power
19generating canopies over large commercial parking lots program that significantly increases the
20use of solar-generated power in the commonwealth.
21 (c) In designing the program, the department shall:
22 (i) consult with an advisory working group to make recommendations concerning the
23design and operation of the program. The members of the advisory working group shall be
24appointed by the secretary and shall include a representative of the division of energy resources,
25who shall chair the working group, and a representative of the commercial real estate industry; a
26representative of organized labor, a representative of the solar energy industry, a representative
27of an environmental group concerned with energy, a representative of the construction industry,
28a representative of an electric utility or organization representing electric utilities, a
29representative of local government, a person with expertise in energy siting, and a person with
30expertise in solar energy and energy efficiency; ;
31 (ii) review the design and operation of parking lot solar energy incentive programs
32proposed or in operation in other jurisdictions, including in the state of Washington, Hawaii,
33California, and France; and 3 of 3
34 (iii) hold not fewer than 3 public hearings in different regions of the commonwealth to
35receive public testimony and input on the program.
36 (d) The department shall promulgate regulations as necessary to implement the program.
37 (e) If statutory changes are necessary to implement the program, the department shall
38make specific recommendations to the general court for required changes in statutes.
39 SECTION 2. The advisory working group for the program to encourage the construction
40and operation of solar power generating canopies over large parking lots under section 29 of
41chapter 21A of the General Laws shall make its recommendations no later than 1 year after the
42effective date of this act. The department shall implement said section 29 of said chapter 21A no
43later than 2 years after the effective date of this act.