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