On December 23rd,2025 the Massachusetts DEP announced they had pushed the implementation date for the State’s Clean Heat Standard back to 2028. The Standard was slated to start this year and the cited reason for the delay is so the DEP can “evaluate new fuel and emissions data, analyze affordability trends, monitor heat pump adoption and collect additional information.” The delay of the Standard’s implementation until after the upcoming election season has caught attention in Massachusetts - critics read the delay and mention of “affordability trends” as an acknowledgment that already surging utility costs will necessarily go up under the plan, and an unwillingness of elected officials to have that discussion ahead of elections.
Under the CHS, suppliers would be required to deliver a gradually increasing percentage of their heat as “clean heat” to push down emissions and hit targets. The essential goal is to move residential and commercial customers to heat pumps and other approved technologies. Customers are technically not required to switch to alternative sources, but ultimately those who do not move to newer options would see bills steadily increase over time, according to analysis of the plan by Diversity Energy Specialists. On the supplier side itself, the cost is even higher. This article from Oil & Energy does a great job breaking out the cost factors: Oil & Energy Online :: How Massachusetts’ Clean Heat Standard Could Transform Energy Dealer Economics. While these costs are not currently going to be impacting us immediately because of the delay, it is worth knowing what’s potentially on the table for when it goes back into effect.
While the delay of the CHS is a welcome reprieve for end users in the State, at least for the moment, Massachusetts finds itself in a situation much like we saw in Vermont, where the Climate goals and initiatives ratified by the State require the CHS to kick on in order to hit target. (Great explainer on the change in VT and the issues stemming from their CHS delay here if you’re interested: The clean heat standard is dead. What comes next? - VTDigger)
Essentially, Massachusetts’ law requires it to hit its self-imposed emissions targets in 2025 & 2030 or it is in violation of its own law. It seems increasingly unlikely, given both the delay of the ACT and the delay of the CHS, that those targets will be able to remain intact, so we may see legislation coming down the pike (pun intended) to revise or address these set levels. Speaking of the Mass Pike and emissions, the Healey Administration is reportedly entertaining a bill in Massachusetts to address emissions (and traffic) by limiting miles driven within the State. More on that later!
Lastly – the delay of the CHS does not negate that emissions reporting is due quarterly still for heating oil delivery agents and wholesalers. The DEP will still need those by the 29th of January, don’t say we didn’t warn you!