1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2955 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3465
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Mike Connolly
_________________
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 the adoption of renewable energy for heating, cooling and hot water.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Mike Connolly26th Middlesex1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2955 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3465
By Representative Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3465) of
Mike Connolly relative to promoting the adoption of renewable energy for heating, cooling and
hot water under the zoning law. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3678 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act promoting the adoption of renewable energy for heating, cooling and hot water.
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 40A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2section 3 the following new subsection:- No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit or
3unreasonably regulate the installation of alternative and renewable energy systems for electricity,
4heating, cooling or hot water or the building of structures that facilitate the use of alternative and
5renewable energy systems for electricity, heating, cooling or hot water, except where necessary
6to protect the public health, safety or welfare.
7 Chapter 40A of the General Laws is hereby further amended by adding the following new
8subsection:- A municipality may require any person or entity that applies for a permit to build a
9new structure or for renovation of a portion of a building that is equal to or greater than 50 per
10cent of the building area or to replace a pre-existing structure to include as part of the application 2 of 2
11for planning board approval, if applicable, and otherwise for a building permit a plan that uses
12alternative and renewable energy sources and an analysis of the feasibility and cost of installing
13such a system compared with a fossil fueled energy system.
14 SECTION 2. Section 23C of Chapter 184 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
15inserting after the words “use of” the following: (i) Section 23C of Chapter 184 of the General
16Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “solar energy” the following: , or
17(ii) an alternative or renewable energy system, powered in whole or in part by the sun, wind,
18water, biomass, alcohol, or any renewable, non-depletable or recyclable fuel.
19 SECTION 3. Section 45B of Chapter 59 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by
20adding the following paragraph at the end:-Any heat pump system being utilized as a primary or
21auxiliary power system for the purpose of heating or otherwise supplying the energy needs of
22property taxable under this chapter; provided, however, that such exemption shall be allowed
23only for a period of twenty years from the date of the installation of such system or device.