On March 16, 2026, Governor Maura Healey signed Executive Order No. 654, titled “To Secure Massachusetts’ Energy Future by Establishing an Energy Supply Plan that Drives Affordability and Reliability” (the “Executive Order”).[1] The Executive Order aims to achieve two primary objectives: to increase the Commonwealth’s energy supply and to lower energy bills. To achieve these objectives, the Executive Order establishes the 10x10x10 plan: develop 10 GW of new energy resources over the next 10 years and save Massachusetts consumers $10 billion.
ENERGY SUPPLY
The Executive Order provides a breakdown of the objective of this 10GW target as follows: 4 GW of solar, 2.5 GW of additional generation connected to the New England power grid, and 3.5 GW from demand-side resources such as virtual power plants. The Executive Order also sets a separate goal of bringing 5 GW of energy storage online or under development in the Commonwealth by 2035.
ENERGY SOURCE DIVERSIFICATION AND STORAGE: SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES TO EEA
To support these targets, the Executive Order directs the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (“EEA”) and its relevant departments to: (1) advance solar, energy storage, and wind; (2) develop nuclear, geothermal, and other non-fossil thermal energy sources; and (3) review regional oil and gas storage and delivery capacity.
- Solar, energy storage, and wind: EEA is tasked with reforming policies of the Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”) to reduce deployment barriers, partnering with utilities to improve interconnection, expediting Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) solar-related proceedings, and promoting microgrids and local energy sources.[2]
- Nuclear, geothermal, and other non-fossil thermal sources: EEA is directed to sustain existing nuclear generation, identify viable thermal resources, accelerate licensing and certification pathways, and clarify regulatory and permitting frameworks.[3]
- Regional oil and gas storage and delivery: EEA is to evaluate the role of the Everett Marine Terminal and other storage facilities in regional supply and reliability, assess the benefits of additional capacity or delivery options, and recommend improvements to fuel storage and delivery infrastructure. [4]
AFFORDABILITY AND GRID RESILIENCE
To support the Executive Order’s goals of affordability, grid readiness, and energy supply, the Executive Order directs the DPU to do the following:[5]
- Require each Electric Distribution Company (“EDC”) to submit plans to handle anticipated increases in interconnection requests, in light of the approaching phase out of the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) tax credits.
- Require EDCs with Capital Investment Projects to update their tariffs to “allow solar developers to pay for grid interconnection costs over time and secure such payments by means of a letter of credit or posting a bond.”
- Require EDCs to develop and file a comprehensive flexible interconnection program.
- “Expedite the review of proposals that can unlock the benefits of time-of-use electricity rates, distributed energy resources, energy efficiency, and virtual power plants and direct the EDCs to expeditiously implement all approved measures.”
The Executive Order also directs the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity within EEA to advance community energy resilience hubs and evaluate whether energy and resiliency programs are benefiting designated Burdened Areas.[6]
Additionally, the Executive Order directs EEA and the Executive Office of Economic Development to recommend policy, regulatory, and legislative changes to establish Clean Energy Ready Zones that leverage existing energy infrastructure and supply.[7] EEA is also required to evaluate strategies to reduce transmission infrastructure costs for ratepayers.
CONCLUSION
Energy affordability is an increasing concern for consumers, prompting action from governors and state legislatures across the country. Executive Order No. 654 represents Governor Healey’s effort to address these concerns within existing regulatory authority through an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, even as she continues to advance the Commonwealth’s climate and clean energy goals through related legislation under consideration at the State House.[8]
For questions about this Executive Order or energy law, please reach out to Patrick Kealy (pkealy@princelobel.com) or Adam Braillard (abraillard@princelobel.com).
[1] Exec. Order No. 654 (March 16, 2026) https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-654-to-secure-massachusetts-energy-future-by-establishing-an-energy-supply-plan-that-drives-affordability-and-reliability.
[2] Exec. Order No. 654, Sec. 2.
[3] Exec. Order No. 654, Sec. 2.
[4] Exec. Order No. 654, Sec. 2.
[5] Exec. Order No. 654, Sec. 3.
[6] Exec. Order No. 654, Sec. 3.
[7] Exec. Order No. 654, Sec. 3.
[8] See House Bill No. 4144 (referred to Comm. Telecomms., Utils., and Energy, May 15, 2025) https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4144; see also House Bill No. 5175 (February 26, 2026) https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5175.