From July 2025 through June 2026, Massachusetts relied on net imports for more than half of its electricity consumption—about 57%. Fossil-fuel generation supplied another 27%, overwhelmingly from gas at about 26%, with oil contributing just over 1%. In-state low-carbon generation accounted for about 14% of consumption. Solar was its largest component at roughly 11%, including about 7% from behind-the-meter systems, such as rooftop panels, and 4% from utility-scale installations. Biofuels and wind each contributed around 1%. The supplied data do not identify the electricity sources behind net imports, so those imports cannot be classified as either clean or fossil electricity.

Is Electricity Growing in Massachusetts?

Electricity consumption per person is growing modestly in Massachusetts. The latest 2026 figure reached about 8,600 kWh per person, exceeding the previous record of roughly 8,500 kWh in 2025 by 97 kWh, or about 1%. Low-carbon electricity generation per person grew faster, reaching 1,230 kWh compared with the previous record of 1,144 kWh in 2025—an increase of 86 kWh, or roughly 8%. These new records are encouraging, particularly the stronger growth in clean generation, although sustained expansion will be needed to support electrification and rising electricity demand from AI.

Suggestions

Massachusetts can build on its existing solar contribution by expanding rooftop, commercial, and utility-scale solar generation. The US states of California and Nevada demonstrate the scale solar can achieve, supplying about 31% and 35% of their electricity generation, respectively. Nearby regions offer especially relevant examples for other clean technologies: nuclear supplies more than half of electricity generation in the US state of New Hampshire and more than a third in the US state of Connecticut. Massachusetts should consider developing nuclear generation alongside solar to increase its low-carbon electricity supply. Wind also deserves expansion, drawing lessons from the US state of Maine, where it supplies about 18% of generation, and from Denmark, where it supplies more than half. Together, these technologies could strengthen local clean electricity production and reduce reliance on fossil fuels associated with climate change and air pollution.

History

The supplied history covers only 2024–2026 and shows mixed changes in Massachusetts’s low-carbon electricity generation. In 2024, hydroelectric generation fell by 0.4 TWh, while wind and biofuel generation were unchanged. In 2025, wind and hydroelectric generation remained flat, while biofuel generation decreased by 0.1 TWh. In 2026, wind delivered an encouraging increase of 0.4 TWh, although hydroelectric generation declined by another 0.1 TWh and biofuel generation remained unchanged. Wind’s recent growth is welcome, but the earlier stagnation and hydroelectric declines underline the need for sustained clean electricity expansion. No solar or nuclear changes are included in this historical series, so it does not establish their trajectories.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.