Massachusetts Attorney General Healey Backs Lifting Net Metering Solar Caps, 6/1

In written testimony to the Joint Committee on Telecommunications on 6/1, Attorney General Healey recognized that solar metering caps risk slowing beneficial development. Net Metering allows electricity consumers who produce more energy than they use to receive the retail rate for the excess. (Net metering caps do not apply to residences.) Utilities have opposed removing caps theorizing that this forces non-solar customers to subsidize solar industry growth. Others believe solar energy generates a positive effect for all consumers and the grid, and/or that it's only right that people producing power back to the grid receive the benefit. According to Healey, "A long-term, balanced solar policy must ensure that...all costs and benefits to the system and society are realized and accounted for fully and appropriate." Governor Baker's administration has stated an interest in finding a long term solution first, but this patient strategy seems risky to businesses and the environment.