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Massachusetts aims to bring 5 gigawatts of battery storage online by 2030 and another 5 GW by 2035, supported by incentives, permitting reforms and utility procurement. Developers are advancing several large projects, but high grid connection costs remain a major obstacle.
Massachusetts is targeting 5 gigawatts of battery storage by 2030 and a total of 10 GW by 2035, combining financial incentives, faster approval rules and utility procurements to encourage large projects. Several developments are underway, but the cost of connecting batteries to the grid remains a significant hurdle.
The state has already exceeded an earlier goal of installing 1 GW of storage by 2025, reaching more than 1.6 GW, according to the source report. Its current target would add substantial capacity over the next decade. Massachusetts is among 13 states with battery procurement targets; the report says its 10-GW target is the highest among them.
Projects at different stages include Jupiter Power’s proposed 700-MW Trimount facility outside Boston, a 250-MW project whose developer recently closed on $850 million in financing, and a 200-MW facility near the Rhode Island border where construction has begun. The report says Trimount construction is slated to begin next year; it does not establish that these projects are already operating.
State support includes the Clean Peak Standard, in effect since 2020, which pays renewable energy facilities and storage owners for supplying electricity during peak-demand periods. Siting reforms that took effect July 1 allow the Energy Facilities Siting Board to approve large projects, including storage facilities of at least 100 MW. The board must issue decisions within 15 months of an application, under the new rules described in the report.
How Batteries Could Ease Grid Peaks
Battery systems can store electricity when it is plentiful or less expensive, then supply it when demand rises. That can reduce reliance on higher-cost, more polluting generation during peak periods, although the actual effect on bills depends on project costs, grid conditions and how the systems are used.
Storage may also support grid resilience by making electricity available when demand spikes or severe weather disrupts supply. Massachusetts officials have pointed to both reliability and cost pressures as reasons for expanding storage. The policy package is intended to make development more predictable, but it does not remove the expense of connecting projects to the grid.
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From Early Targets to New Rules
Massachusetts began its state storage push with the Energy Storage Initiative in 2015, under then-Gov. Charlie Baker. The state subsequently surpassed its initial 1-GW-by-2025 target, reaching more than 1.6 GW, and adopted the Clean Peak Standard in 2020.
The current approach combines incentives with changes to project approvals and competitive procurement. In December 2025, the state selected four projects totaling 1.3 GW to advance to contract negotiations with major utilities. A second solicitation received 35 bids before closing, and the source report said selected projects were expected to be announced in February. The report does not specify the year for that February announcement.
“Massachusetts is really a leader in this space.”
— Erin Smith, energy and grid policy director at the Environmental League of Massachusetts
Grid Connection Costs Still Loom
Interconnection costs remain a major unknown for the proposed buildout. Developers canceled plans for a 125-MW battery in Tewksbury in September, citing an unexpected $65 million in required grid upgrades. A study by grid operator ISO New England found that estimated connection costs for a number of proposed projects—most of them battery developments in Massachusetts—often exceeded $200 million, according to the report.
Those figures could affect which proposals proceed and how much storage is ultimately built. The supplied report ends while describing the estimates and does not provide a complete account of the study’s findings, the full range of costs, or any state plan to address them. It is also not clear from the material whether the named projects will all meet their schedules or reach final operating status.
Procurement Decisions and Project Timelines
The next stated milestone is the announcement of projects selected in the second utility solicitation. The source report expected that announcement in February, but does not identify the year; the timing should be confirmed with state officials before being treated as a current schedule. The four projects selected in December 2025 are still moving toward contract negotiations, rather than being described as completed contracts.
Developers will also need to move through permitting, financing and grid interconnection. Trimount is slated to begin construction next year, while other projects have different reported stages of development. Their progress, alongside the cost and timing of grid upgrades, will show how much of the state’s 2030 target is achievable.
Key Questions
How much battery storage is Massachusetts targeting?
The state’s target is 5 GW by 2030, followed by another 5 GW by 2035, for a total of 10 GW.
What policies are intended to support new battery projects?
Support includes Clean Peak Standard payments, siting and permitting reforms, and utility procurements for large storage projects.
What is the main barrier to building the projects?
Grid interconnection costs are a major concern. One canceled project cited $65 million in required upgrades, while estimates for other proposed projects often exceeded $200 million, according to the report.
Are the proposed battery facilities already operating?
No. The source describes projects at different stages, including planned construction, financing and work already begun. It does not say that the named large facilities are operating.
When will Massachusetts announce the next selected projects?
The source report said selections were expected in February but did not specify the year. The announcement date should be checked against an updated state procurement notice.
Source: canarymedia.com
