Massachusetts lawmakers are debating a compromise bill that would raise the solar net metering cap and cut reimbursement rates for large, private projects.The legislation would raise the private and public solar net metering caps 3 percent each to 7 and 8 percent, respectively. Caps have been hit across the state, stalling development. State Senator Ben Downing of the Berkshires is a member of the committee that hammered out the compromise months after the House and Senate passed their own legislation.
“I think that probably gets you about 9 months to a year’s worth of development before the caps are hit again,” Downing said. “So you’re talking about a couple hundred megawatts of solar development.”
New large, private solar projects would be reimbursed at 60 percent of the retail rate under the proposal. The Senate is expected to take up the bill Thursday.