Dozens of clean energy businesses convened at the State House today to showcase the growing vitality of the clean energy industry and to call for expanded clean energy polices during the Northeast Clean Energy Council’s (NECEC) seventh annual Massachusetts Clean Energy Day.

Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson delivered the keynote address for the event, in a speaking program that included Steve Pike, CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Melissa Kemp, Northeast Policy Director of Cypress Creek Renewables, as well as other legislative and clean energy industry leaders. Senator Michael Barrett and Speaker Pro Tempore Patricia Haddad were honored by NECEC as 2018 Clean Energy Champions for their leadership in advancing the Commonwealth’s clean energy economy.

“Massachusetts is a global hub for clean energy thanks to the hard work and leadership of the Baker-Polito Administration, leading lawmakers like Senator Barrett and Representative Haddad, whom we are delighted to honor today, and innovation and investment from the private sector,” said Peter Rothstein, President of NECEC. “However, we are at a pivotal point where key policy changes are needed to ensure that markets here continue to flourish to accelerate clean energy, including solar, wind, advanced energy storage, energy efficiency, peak demand reduction and more. We look forward to working with our state legislators, business community leaders and other stakeholders to advance critical policies and enable clean energy and economic growth.”

Throughout the day, the clean energy business community met with lawmakers to emphasize the importance of consistent policy support in catalyzing the state’s economy and ensuring the continued growth of the clean energy industry. Business leaders attending the event discussed policies such as increasing the state’s renewable portfolio standard, increasing solar net metering caps, fixing the mandatory residential demand charge approved in Eversource's recent rate case, which unfairly penalizes solar and distributed generation customers, and establishing meaningful energy storage targets and rebate programs as top priorities as the Massachusetts legislature moves into the final months of its session. Read NECEC’s Massachusetts Policy Priorities here.

“Increasing the state’s renewable portfolio standard is critical to renewable industry growth and maintaining Massachusetts’ clean energy leadership position,” said Janet Gail Besser, Executive Vice President of NECEC. “We are pleased to see recent legislative proposals moving in this direction. With states like New York, Rhode Island and most recently Connecticut passing more aggressive renewable portfolio standards, it is time for Massachusetts to affirm its commitment to clean energy and send a clear signal to this growing industry that the Bay State is the place to invest and create jobs.”

About NECEC

NECEC is the premier voice of businesses building a world-class clean energy hub in the Northeast, helping clean energy companies start, scale and succeed with our unique business, innovation and policy leadership. NECEC includes the Northeast Clean Energy Council (a nonprofit business member organization), and NECEC Institute (a nonprofit focused on industry research, innovation, policy development and communications initiatives). NECEC brings together business leaders and key stakeholders to engage in influential policy discussions and business initiatives while building connections that propel the clean energy industry forward.