Massachusetts moves to block wood‑burning plant and slash utility costs with new energy bills

Massachusetts lawmakers have advanced two related energy measures. In the state Senate and House, provisions were approved that would prevent electricity generated by wood‑burning power plants from counting toward municipal utilities’ clean‑energy standards. The change is intended to cut the financial incentive for municipalities to purchase power from the proposed wood‑burning plant in Springfield, developed by Palmer Renewable Energy, effectively making the project financially unviable.

The Senate also passed a broader energy reform bill projected to save $14 billion over the next decade, while a companion House bill projects about $9 billion in savings. Both measures aim to alleviate rising utility costs for Massachusetts households, which have seen electric and gas bills more than double in recent years. The legislation combines financing, administrative changes, and preservation of certain efficiency program funds to achieve the projected savings.