Over the past twelve months, from September 2024 to August 2025, Massachusetts relied heavily on net imports for its electricity, with more than half (about 56%) coming from this source. Fossil fuels also played a significant role, making up nearly 30% of the electricity mix, with gas contributing the majority of this portion at almost 29%. Low-carbon energy sources accounted for about 13% of the state’s electricity, with solar energy, including behind-the-meter and utility-scale solar, representing close to 11%. Biofuels, although classified within low-carbon sources, contributed just under 2% to the total electricity generation, underscoring the critical role of other low-carbon options such as solar in Massachusetts's energy portfolio.

Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in Massachusetts?

Despite the essential contributions of low-carbon sources, Massachusetts has seen a stagnation in overall electricity consumption. In 2025, the electricity consumption per person was about 8389 kWh, which marks a noticeable decrease of almost 1600 kWh per person from the historic high in 2005. Furthermore, low-carbon electricity generation has not seen growth in line with expectations. The generation per person was about 1108 kWh in 2025, a decline of nearly 300 kWh compared to the peak year of 2018. This stagnation in low-carbon electricity generation is concerning, especially amidst growing efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and their associated impacts like climate change and pollution.

Suggestions

To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Massachusetts should look towards expanding its solar capacity, which is already contributing significantly to the state's clean energy landscape. Learning from successful regions can provide valuable insights; for instance, Nevada's substantial integration of solar energy, generating 33% of its electricity through solar, offers a promising blueprint. Likewise, leveraging nuclear energy, as exemplified by neighboring states like New Hampshire with a 54% share, can be instrumental. By adopting strategies from regions renowned for their solar and nuclear success, Massachusetts can substantially boost its low-carbon electricity production, ensuring a sustainable and cleaner energy future.

History

Historically, Massachusetts’s journey in increasing its low-carbon electricity output has experienced several fluctuations. In the early 2000s, nuclear energy saw inconsistent growth, with notable production declines like the decrease of 0.5 TWh in 2005 and larger drops in subsequent years such as 1.5 TWh in 2013 and 2.3 TWh in 2019. While nuclear power had moments of recovery, these have been eclipsed by significant downturns, hindering progress in low-carbon energy growth. Meanwhile, hydroelectric power experienced slight declines in recent years, such as a reduction of 0.4 TWh in 2024. These variations highlight the need for a definitive strategy towards stable and increasing contributions from clean energy sources to meet both current and future electricity demands.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade