Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3467 Compare Versions

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

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2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4121 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3467
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Mike Connolly
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 establishing solar neighborhoods.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Mike Connolly26th Middlesex1/17/2025 1 of 4
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4121 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3467
18	18	By Representative Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3467) of
19	19	Mike Connolly relative to establishing solar neighborhoods. Telecommunications, Utilities and
20	20	Energy.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE HOUSE, NO. 3677 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 establishing solar neighborhoods.
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 appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
32	32	2amended by inserting after section 18 the following section:-
33	33	3 Section 19. Solar neighborhoods act.
34	34	4 (a) As used in this section the following words shall have the following meanings unless
35	35	5the context clearly requires otherwise:-
36	36	6 “Battery storage system,” a system allowing electricity to be stored in and discharged
37	37	7from batteries.
38	38	8 “Developer”, any person or company that constructs residential or commercial buildings. 2 of 4
39	39	9 “Green roof,” a layer of vegetation planted over the roof of a building.
40	40	10 “Multi-family dwelling”, a building intended to be inhabited as a primary or secondary
41	41	11residence by multiple individuals or groups of individuals living in separate apartments.
42	42	12 “New building”, any newly constructed residential or commercial building that requires a
43	43	13building permit to proceed.
44	44	14 “Single-family dwelling”, a building intended to be inhabited as a primary or secondary
45	45	15residence by one individual or group of individuals.
46	46	16 “Solar energy system”, any solar photovoltaic system that is installed on site and uses
47	47	17solar energy to provide all or a portion of the electrical needs of a residential or commercial
48	48	18building.
49	49	19 “Solar hot water heater”, any system that uses solar energy to heat water for use in a
50	50	20residential or commercial building.
51	51	21 “Substitute renewable energy system”, a renewable energy generating source, as defined
52	52	22in section 11F of chapter 25A, that is not a solar photovoltaic system, is installed on site, and
53	53	23provides all or a portion of the electrical needs of a residential or commercial building.
54	54	24 (b) The department, in consultation with the state board of building regulations and
55	55	25standards, shall develop and promulgate amendments to the base energy code, stretch energy
56	56	26code, and specialized stretch energy code established under section 6 of chapter 25A and
57	57	27sections 93 through 100 of chapter 143 requiring new buildings to be built with solar energy
58	58	28systems. 3 of 4
59	59	29 (c) Detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings or
60	60	30townhouses regulated under the provisions of the residential code shall have a solar energy
61	61	31system producing sufficient electricity on an annual basis to meet at least 80 percent of the
62	62	32estimated average annual electricity use of dwellings of a similar size. The department may
63	63	33reduce the required minimum generating capacity of solar energy systems for these dwellings by
64	64	34up to 25 percent if installed in conjunction with a battery storage system with a minimum
65	65	35capacity of 7.5 kilowatt-hours per dwelling unit.
66	66	36 (d) Multi-family dwellings and commercial buildings up to six stories in height shall have
67	67	37a solar energy system and battery storage system of a minimum capacity established by the
68	68	38department, which may be based on the size of the roof and effective solar area, building type
69	69	39and occupancy, estimated average annual electricity use of similar buildings, or other factors.
70	70	40 (e) The department may require other categories of new buildings to have a solar energy
71	71	41system or battery storage system, and set requirements for the minimum generating capacity of
72	72	42the solar energy system installed on those buildings.
73	73	43 (f) The department shall estimate the average annual electricity use for the categories of
74	74	44buildings described in this section and revise its determination at least every three years, taking
75	75	45into account changes in electricity use due to energy efficiency improvements, electric vehicle
76	76	46charging, electric heating and cooling technologies, and other factors.
77	77	47 (g) In promulgating these regulations, the department may include provisions to ensure
78	78	48that new buildings can accommodate solar energy systems on their rooftops, including but not
79	79	49limited to requirements for static load roof strength, placement of rooftop equipment, sizing and
80	80	50provision of extra electrical panels, provision of space for a solar energy system DC-AC inverter 4 of 4
81	81	51in the utility room or on an outside wall, roof orientation and angle, roof types that are
82	82	52compatible with a solar installation mounting strategy that will require minimal or no roof
83	83	53penetrations, and conduits for wiring from roofs to electric panels.
84	84	54 (h) The department shall establish criteria under which developers can seek an exemption
85	85	55from the requirements of this section. Such criteria may include insufficient rooftop solar energy
86	86	56generating potential, the installation of a substitute renewable energy system or solar hot water
87	87	57heater at the time of construction, the installation of a solar energy system over a parking lot or
88	88	58elsewhere on the property, and participation in a community solar project. The department may
89	89	59allow exemptions from the requirements of this section for affordable housing developments,
90	90	60after consulting with affordable housing developers and operators, community development
91	91	61corporations, organizations that represent affordable housing residents, and other stakeholders.
92	92	62 (i) The provisions of the building code adopted under this section shall allow the
93	93	63installation of a green roof in conjunction with a rooftop solar energy system.
94	94	64 (j) A building permit for a new building shall not be granted without a showing that the
95	95	65building complies with the requirements of this section.
96	96	66 (k) Any person who fails to comply with or otherwise violates this section shall be liable
97	97	67for a civil administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, or twice the estimated
98	98	68additional cost that would have been incurred by constructing a building to meet the
99	99	69requirements of this chapter, whichever is greater.
100	100	70 (l) The department shall promulgate regulations within 1 year of the passage of this act to
101	101	71enforce this section. All future editions of the base energy code, stretch energy code, and
102	102	72specialized stretch energy code shall include provisions meeting the requirements of this section.