ESG & Industry Updates

On December 23^rd,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.

Understanding Advanced Clean Truck Regulations

The Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulations represent a significant shift in environmental policy aimed at reducing emissions from medium and heavy-duty vehicles. Initially adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), these regulations have now been embraced by several states, including Massachusetts. The core objective of the ACT rules is to increase the number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road, thereby curbing harmful emissions that contribute to air pollution and climate change.

The US House of Representatives passed legislation this week voting to overturn California’s Advanced Clean Truck Rule and Advanced Clean Cars II Rule. However, (much like a lot of the breaking news we’ve seen the past few months), the decision may not be allowed to be upheld legally. 

MassDEP adopted the CARB (California Air Resources Board) Heavy Duty Omnibus and Advanced Clean Truck Regulations (aka 310 CMR 7.40) December 2021, along with several other States. The bill took effect January 1, 2025.

The next chapter of Massachusetts Climate Change regulation kicks on January 1^st with emissions and storage reporting requirements for the DEP due throughout 2025 ahead of the full enactment of the Clean Heat Standard kicking on in January 2026.

Massachusetts passed a long awaited and much debated climate change bill this week and sent it to Governor Healey’s desk Thursday afternoon.

Uncovering the Hidden Culprit of Urban Methane Emissions

When we think of methane emissions, our minds often leap to images of sprawling agricultural lands or the vast, mechanical expanse of fracking sites. Yet, nestled within the heart of our cities, an invisible culprit lurks—aging natural gas pipelines. A recent study by Harvard University sheds light on this urban nemesis, revealing that Boston alone loses a staggering 15 billion cubic feet of natural gas annually due to leaks. This isn't just a financial headache to the tune of $90 million each year; it's an environmental crisis, with urban leaks emerging as a significant source of methane emissions.

“Competitive Electric Suppliers” will be banned in Massachusetts if the House passes the Climate Bill that the State Senate passed June 25^{th 2024}....But what does that even mean?

In another move forward against Climate Change, Massachusetts will be home to the United States' first utility-scale offshore wind project. Vineyard Wind, about 35 miles off the Mass coast, will produce up to 800 megawatts of electricity, powering 400,000 homes and businesses across the Commonwealth, dropping carbon emissions by up to 1.6 million tons per year. 

This June, Eversource broke ground on a new pilot program for Geothermal energy in Framingham, Massachusetts. This is the first utility scale networked geothermal network in the country, so it’s pretty exciting stuff.