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Massachusetts has set a target of 5 gigawatts of battery storage by 2030, followed by another 5 GW by 2035, and has introduced policies intended to attract projects. Development is advancing, but high grid interconnection costs remain a major obstacle, and the source report does not provide the full findings of a study on those costs.
Massachusetts is targeting 5 gigawatts of battery storage by 2030 and another 5 GW by 2035, while using financial incentives, utility procurement and permitting reforms to speed development. The push has helped advance major projects, but the high cost of connecting batteries to the electric grid remains a significant constraint, according to a report by Canary Media.
The state has already exceeded an earlier goal of installing 1 GW of storage by 2025, reaching more than 1.6 GW, the report said. Its longer-term target of 10 GW by 2035 is the highest among 13 states that have set battery-storage procurement targets, according to the article. California, by comparison, has about 23 GW of installed storage capacity.
Several large projects are moving ahead. Jupiter Power’s planned 700-megawatt Trimount project near Boston is expected to be the largest battery project in New England, with construction scheduled to start next year. Another company has secured $850 million in financing for a 250-MW battery, while a 200-MW facility near the Rhode Island border has broken ground and is expected to be operating by year-end, the report said.
State policy has included the Clean Peak Standard, which began in 2020 and pays renewable energy facilities and storage owners for supplying electricity during periods of peak demand. Siting and permitting reforms that took effect July 1 authorize the state Energy Facilities Siting Board to approve projects of 100 MW or more, with decisions due within 15 months of an application. The state is also seeking utility contracts for large storage projects: four projects totaling 1.3 GW were selected in December 2025 to proceed to contract negotiations, and a second solicitation drew 35 bids before closing earlier this month.
How Batteries Could Ease Peak Demand
Battery storage can hold electricity when it is less expensive or more abundant, including periods of strong solar generation, and discharge it when demand rises. That can reduce reliance on more expensive and emissions-intensive generation at peak times. Massachusetts has high electricity prices and ambitious clean-energy goals, making storage relevant to both its power costs and its plans to shift the electricity supply.
Storage can also provide backup support during extreme or erratic weather, though the report does not quantify how much the planned capacity would reduce outages or household bills. Whether the targets translate into operating projects will depend partly on financing, permitting and the cost and timing of grid connections.
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From Early Targets to New Rules
Massachusetts began its Energy Storage Initiative in 2015, during the administration of then-Gov. Charlie Baker. The state first set a 1 GW storage target for 2025 and surpassed it, reaching more than 1.6 GW. The newer goals extend that effort to 5 GW by 2030 and 10 GW by 2035.
The policy approach combines operating incentives with a route to utility contracts and centralized review of large projects. Supporters say this helps developers plan projects that can take years to permit and build. Erin Smith, energy and grid policy director for the Environmental League of Massachusetts, called the state a leader in encouraging battery development. That is an assessment from an advocate, not a guarantee that projects will be completed on schedule.
“Massachusetts is really a leader in this space.”
— Erin Smith, energy and grid policy director for the Environmental League of Massachusetts
Grid Connection Costs Remain Unclear
Interconnection costs—the expense of upgrades needed to connect projects to the grid—could undermine otherwise viable developments. Developers canceled a planned 125-MW battery in Tewksbury in September, citing an unexpected $65 million cost for required grid upgrades, the report said.
The report also describes a recent study by grid operator ISO New England that estimated connection costs for proposed projects, most of them batteries in Massachusetts. Many estimates exceeded $200 million. The available source text ends before giving the full study findings, so its project-by-project estimates, methods and conclusions are not clear here. It is also not clear which of the announced projects will reach construction or operation on their stated timelines.
Procurement Decisions and Project Timelines
Massachusetts is expected to announce projects selected from its second storage solicitation in February, according to the report. The four projects selected in December 2025 are to move through contract negotiations with major utilities; the report does not say when those negotiations will conclude.
Developers will also need to secure permits, financing and grid connections. Trimount construction is slated to begin next year, while the 200-MW project near the Rhode Island border is expected to begin operating by year-end. Those are reported project timelines, not confirmation that the facilities will meet them. Interconnection costs and the results of the procurement process will help show how much of the state’s 2030 target can be delivered.
Key Questions
What battery-storage capacity is Massachusetts targeting?
The state aims to have 5 GW online by 2030, with another 5 GW by 2035, for a total target of 10 GW.
What policies are intended to support battery projects?
Support includes payments under the Clean Peak Standard, utility procurement solicitations and siting reforms that give the state Energy Facilities Siting Board authority to review storage projects of 100 MW or more.
What is the main obstacle cited in the report?
Grid interconnection costs are a major concern. A planned 125-MW project in Tewksbury was canceled after developers cited $65 million in required grid upgrades. Estimates for many proposed projects in an ISO New England study reportedly exceeded $200 million.
When will Massachusetts announce the next group of selected projects?
The report says selections from a second solicitation, which received 35 bids, are due to be announced in February. It does not specify the year in the supplied source material.
Source: canarymedia.com
