Massachusetts Clean Heat Report

This 2022 report from the Massachusetts Commission on Clean Heat (created in response to a 2021 Executive Order) recommends the creation of a Massachusetts Clean Heat Standard (CHS) and outlines program elements (see page 18 of the report, and Appendix C).

Under the report’s proposed program, obligated parties would have to procure CHS credits. Obligated parties would be suppliers of energy to building heating systems, including utilities, wholesale liquid fuel and propane suppliers, and retailers. Credits would be made available for strategies that reduce GHG emissions, with a strong preference towards pursuing electrification. Credit generation would be also made available for weatherization and energy efficiency, as well as extremely energy efficient new construction to standards such as Passive House. Zero or, potentially, very low carbon fuels may represent an interim opportunity to reduce emissions in existing fossil fuel systems. A carbon intensity scoring system would be developed for each activity that would qualify for Clean Heat Credits.