Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Chair Barrett, Chair Cusack, and Members of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy:
I am submitting testimony on behalf of Progressive Massachusetts. PM is a statewide, multi-issue, grassroots membership organization focused on fighting for policy that would make our Commonwealth more equitable, just, sustainable, and democratic.
We urge you to give a favorable report to H.3559/S.2296: An Act to Encourage Solar Development on Buildings and Disturbed Land.
Massachusetts has set important climate goals, but meeting those climate goals will require a far faster transition to clean and green energy.
These bills would incentivize the siting of solar projects on buildings and disturbed lands, where doing so has the least environmental impact. We can scale up solar and protect our forests at the same time.
What does this mean in practice? More solar installations on parking lot canopies, brownfields, and roadway cuts. More solar on rooftops of residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
The incentives that currently exist have been mainly targeted at the small-scale solar of a household but do not meet the needs of such larger installations.
This bill would fuel the solar energy economy in Massachusetts, which will help us create jobs, reduce energy costs, and ensure a livable planet for all.
As the federal government abandons its commitment to climate action and sabotages progress on environmental justice, it is up to states to lead the way. These bills would help us do so.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Cohn
Policy Director
Progressive Massachusetts
