Massachusetts governor signs sweeping climate, clean-energy law to speed siting, EV access and create union jobs

BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey signed a broad climate and clean energy law at the IBEW Local 103 training center in Dorchester on a day state officials and union leaders called a turning point for jobs, clean infrastructure and energy affordability.

"This is a really big day for Massachusetts," Healey said, thanking labor, industry and legislative leaders in the room. "This bill cuts away the red tape that has held us back for too long. It clears the way for us to ramp up clean energy production, from generation to transmission to affordable access in homes and businesses." Governor Maura Healey (said at the signing).

The legislation, as described by Healey and her administration aides at the event, aims to shorten and simplify siting and permitting for renewable generation, energy storage and transmission; create a single, more predictable process with timelines and early community input; and add programs intended to lower electric costs for low- and middle-income ratepayers. Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper said the Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting and an accompanying legal advisory committee met repeatedly to craft recommendations that informed the bill.

"The heroes of the clean energy transition are the electricians and they're being trained here today," Tepper said, noting the commission met 13 times and relied on a broad group of stakeholders, from utilities and municipalities to environmental-justice organizations.

Officials emphasized workforce and local benefits. Lou, the host representing IBEW Local 103, pointed to the training center’s existing clean-energy installations — a 150-foot, roughly 100 kW wind turbine, 330 kW of solar paired with about 300 kWh of battery storage, and 60 new level 2 and level 3 EV chargers in the lot — as an example of how the law could translate into local jobs and training opportunities. "You, your instructors, and the electrical workers across the Commonwealth will benefit from this bold climate action and the strong industry standards and working protections that this bill possesses," Lou said.

Sen. Barrett, a conference committee co-chair, framed the law as intentionally versatile in the face of changing federal priorities. "If climate bills were gadgets, this one would be a Swiss army knife," he said, adding the statute authorizes special infrastructure partnerships with other Northeastern states and Canadian provinces if federal cooperation is limited.

Labor leaders welcomed the law for its job and training commitments. Chrissy Lynch, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, said organized labor had worked to ensure the transition included labor standards and opportunities to diversify the workforce. "There is no worker shortage in our construction, our utility unions," Lynch said, pointing to investments in pre-apprenticeship programs that aim to recruit more women and people of color into the trade.

The governor and top officials said implementation will be the next phase. Healey said the administration will develop an energy-affordability plan in the coming months to assess financial impacts, coordinate existing programs and explore financing to make sure customers benefit from the transition.

The bill was tied in remarks to recent statewide economic legislation — including the Mass Leads Act and the Affordable Homes Act — as part of a strategy to build Massachusetts as a hub for climate technology while aligning housing and workforce investments.

The signing followed broad, multi-stakeholder negotiations: officials credited the Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting, multiple legislative leaders and utility, labor and environmental stakeholders for reaching the compromise reflected in the law. Attendees then moved to the signing ceremony in the hall.

Implementation timelines, regulatory rulemaking and program details were described as forthcoming; the administration said it would lean on commission members and established councils during that work. No statutory citations or bill numbers were given at the event, and some implementation specifics — including exact program budgets and effective dates — were not specified.

The event concluded with officials and attendees proceeding to the bill-signing ceremony at IBEW Local 103.