5 surprising facts about renewable energy growth in Massachusetts

According to Renewables on the Rise 2024, the eighth edition of our annual report on the state of clean energy in America, Massachusetts now generates 507% more solar power than it did in 2014. This increase means that we can power an additional 434,899 households each year with clean energy.

Here are five interesting facts about clean energy’s growth in Massachusetts:

1. Massachusetts generated more solar energy in 2023 alone than all solar generation before 2017 combined.

Massachusetts produced 5,652 GWh of solar energy last year, up from 931 GWh in 2014. This was enough to bring us to 10th place in the national solar rankings.

2. There was no reported battery storage capacity in Massachusetts until 2018, now we’re 7th in the country.

As of 2023, Massachusetts has installed 0.26 gigawatts of battery storage capacity. This ranks Massachusetts 7th in the country.

3. There are now 68,842 electric vehicles registered in Massachusetts.

The number of EVs has grown 3,729% since 2014. Massachusetts is ranked 12th in the country in terms of EV growth in the past 10 years.

4. Massachusetts added 1,284 EV charging ports in 2023.

This was a 22% increase from 2022 and a 837% increase from 2014. Massachusetts now ranks 5th in the country in EV charging ports installed.

5. Massachusetts is generating nearly 9 times more wind energy than we did in 2010.

Though wind energy was down across the board in 2023, we’ve still seen significant growth since 2010. Massachusetts is ranked 35th in the country in wind generation.

Our clean energy growth over the past 10 years has proven the viability and significance of these renewable energy sources. By taking advantage of the opportunities to continue these trends, Massachusetts can accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

What can state and local leaders do to keep renewable energy growing? 

State and local governments can support renewable energy by:

• setting renewable energy goals with clear benchmarks
• leveraging federal resources to reach renewable energy goals. 
• ensuring that utility policies fairly compensate the owners of renewable energy technologies 
• support policies for permitting and interconnection that make adopting renewable energy technologies easier. 
• expand efficiency programs, including updating energy codes for buildings and adopting the latest appliance efficiency standards.

You can help renewable energy continue to grow in Massachusetts by taking action below.