Blog

Clean Heat Standard

Written by: Yve Torrie, Director of Climate, Energy and Resilience

May 15, 2023

The Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030 tasked MassDEP with developing a “high-level program to meet the emissions limit for residential, commercial, and industrial heating” and identified a Clean Heat Standard (CHS) as a regulatory option for addressing this requirement. This was further expanded on in the 2050 Clean Energy and Climate Plan where MassDEP was tasked with establishing a CHS that would require a “gradual reduction in building emissions.” Furthermore, the Massachusetts Commission on Clean Heat’s report in November 2022 recommended MassDEP initiate a regulatory process to establish a CHS aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel heating fuels.

To begin this process, MassDEP sought initial stakeholder input to inform the development of a proposed CHS regulation and related heating fuel supplier reporting requirements by May 1^st, 2023, and provided the following conceptual documents:

1. A discussion document that includes a general description of the CHS concept, additional background information, and specific questions for stakeholders to consider; and
2. A “straw” regulatory language for heating fuel supplier reporting requirements in support of the CHS.

Based on member feedback, A Better City provided the following comments that focused on: 1) clarifying the definition of heating fuel suppliers; 2) suggesting how the standard could be expressed; 3) accommodating clean heat deployed prior to the CHS taking effect; 4) including weatherization as clean energy for credit generation; 5) considering Combined Heat and Power (CHP) as a transitional clean energy for credit generation; 6) opposing the CHS being supported by a declining cap on emissions at this time; and 7) ensuring that implementation of the CHS will not exacerbate customer energy burdens.

In terms of next steps, MassDEP is expected to commence a formal rulemaking process in response to the comments received by the May 1^st deadline, and provide additional opportunities for public and stakeholder comment. The goal is for the CHS to be implemented by 2024.

For any additional information, please contact Yve Torrie.