COVID Relief for SMART Program Caught in Red Tape

BOSTON and WASHINGTON, D.C. — It has now been more than a year since the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) expanded the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program. The program was expanded by the Baker administration as part of its emergency COVID relief efforts in April 2020. These regulations should have expedited the opening of the program, but SMART has been hampered by cascading delays, and bureaucratic red tape has made it impossible for the SMART program to get off the ground.

Following is a statement from David Gahl, senior director of state policy for the East at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on these harmful delays:

“For more than a year, the Massachusetts solar industry has been waiting for the SMART expansion to take effect. Hundreds of solar companies are still waiting to receive statements of qualification from DOER, the document that allows these companies to participate in SMART. Without this document, solar companies can’t finalize deals or move ahead with their solar projects. 

“Governor Baker and his staff must rectify this problem immediately. With a new climate law on the books, and aggressive new greenhouse gas reduction targets to meet, further delays in the SMART program implementation are unacceptable.

“The economic relief promised by this program is still needed throughout the Commonwealth. Solar is a proven job creator that can also offer significant cost savings to customers during these tough times. The governor should deliver on his COVID relief promise and do everything he can to open the program and break this log jam.” 
 

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About SEIA®: 

The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy, creating the framework for solar to achieve 20% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org and follow @SEIA on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. 

Media Contact: 

Jen Bristol, SEIA’s Director of Communications, jbristol@seia.org (202) 556-2886