A report released today by Synapse Energy Economics for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) finds that continued growth of solar and energy storage in Massachusetts would generate more than $313 million per year in consumer savings by 2030, while also strengthening winter grid reliability and delivering significant environmental benefits. The findings come as state officials consider new legislation and policy adjustments to address a worsening energy affordability crisis.

The study evaluates two future scenarios: one in which Massachusetts continues to add new solar and storage capacity as currently planned through 2030, and another in which no new clean-energy projects are built after 2025. According to the report, maintaining the Commonwealth’s clean-energy trajectory would greatly reduce energy costs for consumers, limit exposure to volatile natural gas price swings, and enhance grid reliability.

Key findings from the report include:

• Massachusetts customers would save $313 million on electricity costs in 2030 alone if the state maintains its planned expansion of solar and storage.

• Across New England, regional benefits would total $684 million.

• Solar and storage would provide 44% of avoided energy-cost benefits during winter months, when reliability challenges are most acute.

• New solar and storage additions would avoid 29 billion cubic feet of natural gas, equivalent to 25% of today’s electric-sector gas use in Massachusetts.

• These additions would also avoid 1.6 million metric tons of CO2 in 2030—equivalent to removing approximately 350,000 cars from the road for a year.

“As SEIA and Synapse’s analysis demonstrates, solar and energy storage are incredible levers that the Commonwealth can pull to deliver utility bill savings, winter reliability, and climate benefits to the state’s residents,” said Representative Mark J. Cusack, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. “To help realize these benefits, we are prioritizing legislation this session that will eliminate barriers blocking these cost-competitive resources. We look forward to collaborating with our state government, clean energy industry, and environmental partners to pass meaningful legislation.”

Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony emphasized the economic and reliability advantages of scaling these technologies: “As SEIA’s analysis shows, solar and energy storage are key to lowering energy costs and provide vast economic benefits for all customers. Adding more solar energy and energy storage in Massachusetts will also add needed reliability to our electric grid and is an opportunity to support local clean energy companies and jobs.”

According to the report, solar and storage remain the fastest and most cost-effective options for adding new grid capacity. As New England’s peak electricity demand shifts from summer to winter, these resources will play an increasingly critical role. Nearly half of all avoided energy-cost benefits—44%—would occur between November and March, when the region experiences its greatest grid stress and most severe gas-supply constraints. During the highest-load winter hours in 2030, solar and storage would serve roughly 11% of demand, reducing reliance on costly and vulnerable gas-fired generation.

“This study validates the fact that solar and storage is fundamental to Massachusetts’ energy landscape,” said Sara Birmingham, SEIA’s vice president of state affairs. “As families and businesses grapple with some of the highest electricity costs in the country, going big on solar is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to deliver power and put real savings back into communities across the Commonwealth.”

In addition to economic and reliability gains, the report highlights substantial environmental and public-health benefits. Continued deployment of solar and storage would avoid 1.6 million metric tons of CO2 in 2030, equivalent to taking nearly 350,000 cars off the road for an entire year.

“Solar and storage resources reduce wholesale energy prices. This report quantifies the economic and reliability benefits of solar and storage additions in Massachusetts at a time when electricity affordability is of increasing concern,” said Selma Sharaf, Associate at Synapse Energy Economics. “Our analysis underscores that relying on gas to meet this demand is risky, and that continued deployment of solar and storage is a key strategy to support a more affordable, reliable, clean energy future.”