MA RENEWABLE ENERGY REQUIREMENT “MA REQ”
By law, all electric supply products are required to include a mandatory minimum percentage of clean/renewable energy resources. For example, products sold in 2023 must include a minimum of 59% clean energy resources that are located within the New England region. The total MA Renewable Energy Requirement “MA REQ” consists of several different state initiatives, each with different objectives and different resource types that qualify. Currently, the MA REQ equals the sum of the Clean Energy Standard (inclusive of RPS Class I), the Clean Energy Standard for existing resources (CES-E), and RPS Class II. The table below provides a detailed breakdown of the different categories and the minimum requirements of each category through 2027.
(% of electricity sales)
| Clean Energy Standard (CES) [1] | |||||||||
| “Clean Generation” | “Clean Existing Generation” | Other Mandates (Excluded)** | |||||||
| Year | RPS Class I [2] | Other “Clean Generation” | Total CES | CES-E | RPS Class II | RPS Class II Waste Energy [3] | MA Renewable Energy Requirement* | APS [4] | CPES [5] |
| 2021 | 18% | 4% | 22% | 20% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 49.3% | 5.25% | 3.0% |
| 2022 | 20% | 4% | 24% | 20% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 51.3% | 5.50% | 4.5% |
| 2023 | 22% | 4% | 26% | 26% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 59.2% | 5.75% | 6.0% |
| 2024 | 24% | 4% | 28% | 27% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 62.3% | 6.00% | 4.0% |
| 2025 | 27% | 3% | 30% | 26% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 63.3% | 6.25% | 5.5% |
| 2026 | 30% | 6% | 36% | 26% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 69.1% | 6.50% | 7.0% |
| 2027 | 33% | 9% | 42% | 27% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 76.0% | 6.75% | 9.0% |
| 2028 | 36% | 12% | 48% | 26% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 81.0% | 7.00% | 13.0% |
* MA Renewable Energy Requirement (“MA REQ”) = (CES) + (CES-E) + (RPS Class II) + (RPS Class II Waste Energy)
** The state Department of Public Utilities excludes APS and CPES from its definition of “MA Renewable Energy Requirement”
Values in red italics are estimates
Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR):
[1] Clean Energy Standard (“CES”) – 310 CMR 7.75
[2] Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – RPS Class I – 225 CMR 14.00
[3] Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – RPS Class II – 225 CMR 15.00
[4] Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (“APS”) – 225 CMR 16.00
[5] Clean Peak Energy Portfolio Standard (“CPES”) – 225 CMR 21.00
Current, predominant resource types by category:
| Category | Resource Types |
| RPS Class I | wind, solar, landfill gas |
| CES Clean Generation | wind, solar, landfill gas |
| CES-E | nuclear and large hydro |
| RPS Class II | hydroelectric, landfill gas |
| RPS Class II Waste Energy | trash burning facilities |
Many Community Choice Power Supply Programs offer products that exceed the MA REQ. Where such products are offered, the product description on the Program’s website page will display the percentage and the type (e.g., RPS Class I, National Wind, etc.) of “voluntary” renewable energy resources acquired over and above the MA REQ.