Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3445 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2750 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3445
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Jennifer Balinsky Armini
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to promote solar panel installations on school property.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jennifer Balinsky Armini8th Essex1/16/2025 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2750 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3445
18	18	By Representative Armini of Marblehead, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3445) of
19	19	Jennifer Balinsky Armini for legislation to promote solar panel installations on school property.
20	20	Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE HOUSE, NO. 3136 OF 2023-2024.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act to promote solar panel installations on school property.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 Chapter 25A of the General Laws, as amended by section 41 of chapter 179 of the acts of
32	32	22022, is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-
33	33	3 Section 21. (a) The office in coordination with the department, as defined in section 3,
34	34	4shall establish a program to promote, support and encourage the construction, installation and
35	35	5operation of solar panels at K-12 public schools in districts across the commonwealth including,
36	36	6municipal and state education offices. The program shall increase overall renewable energy
37	37	7generation and improve energy efficiency through the installation of solar panels at K-12 public
38	38	8schools.
39	39	9 (b) The program shall include: 2 of 3
40	40	10 (i) incentives to encourage the construction, installation and operation of solar panels,
41	41	11which may include construction requirements, incentive payments, tax reductions or deferrals,
42	42	12loans or grants, expedited interconnection requirements, zoning or other regulatory preferences
43	43	13which may include, increasing the amount of the incentive through the state’s current or future
44	44	14solar incentive program for solar panel installation at K-12 public schools;
45	45	15 (ii) expanding installation of solar panels in the commonwealth;
46	46	16 (iii) maximizing the energy use savings of solar panels at K-12 public schools in the
47	47	17commonwealth;
48	48	18 (iv) expand the availability of solar panel electric vehicle charging infrastructure
49	49	19including, but not limited to: (i) technical assistance; (ii) demonstrations; and (iii) identification
50	50	20and implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency, energy storage and electric vehicle
51	51	21charging infrastructure measures and programs in existing and planned buildings or facilities of
52	52	22K-12 public schools in the commonwealth;
53	53	23 (v) roof quality evaluations when considering the installation of solar panels at K-12
54	54	24public schools; and
55	55	25 (vi) such other criteria and conditions necessary for an efficient and effective installation
56	56	26of solar panels at K-12 public schools in the commonwealth.
57	57	27 (c) In designing the program, the department shall:
58	58	28 (i) consult with an advisory working group to make recommendations concerning the
59	59	29design and operation of the program. The members of the advisory working group shall be
60	60	30appointed by the secretary and shall include: (i) a representative of the department of energy 3 of 3
61	61	31resources, who shall chair the working group; (ii) a representative of the department elementary
62	62	32and secondary education; (iii) a representative of organized labor; (iv) a representative of the
63	63	33solar energy industry; (v) a representative of an environmental group concerned with energy; (vi)
64	64	34a representative of the construction industry; (vii) a representative of an electric utility or
65	65	35organization representing electric utilities; (viii) a representative of local government in the
66	66	36commonwealth; (ix) a person with expertise in energy siting; and (x) a person with expertise in
67	67	37solar energy and energy efficiency;
68	68	38 (ii) review the design, installation and operation of solar panels proposed or in operation
69	69	39in other states;
70	70	40 (iii) review cost and benefit analysis of K-12 public schools leasing solar panels rather
71	71	41than operating solar panels;
72	72	42 (iv) review the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 for possible funding for the
73	73	43installation of solar panels at K-12 public schools; and
74	74	44 (v) hold not fewer than 3 public hearings in different regions of the commonwealth to
75	75	45receive public testimony and input on the program including, but not limited to, proposals by K-
76	76	4612 public school districts with 1 or multiple future projects for installation of solar panels.
77	77	47 (d) The department shall promulgate regulations as necessary to implement the program.
78	78	48 (e) If statutory changes are necessary to implement the program, the department shall
79	79	49make specific recommendations to the general court for required changes in law.