BOSTON - Forbes has ranked Massachusetts as the most environmentally-friendly state in the nation. All 50 states were evaluated using a Sustainability Index that utilized three metrics- water use, energy use, and solar friendliness to determine their commitment to protecting the environment. Massachusetts ranked second in water usage with a total of 200.57 gallons per day diverting less water from rivers and bays and fifth in energy usage with 192.2 million Btu used per year, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Massachusetts was also rated one of the most solar-friendly states in the country, based on its current solar infrastructure, the number of solar jobs, and the costs of installing new solar infrastructure. Taken together, Massachusetts received the top rating from Forbes.

“Massachusetts has a long-standing history of being a global leader in sustainability, and our administration is committed to lengthening our lead,” said Governor Maura Healey. “From our Mass Leads Act to our Solar for All program, we are setting the example for an equitable transition to clean energy, which not only benefits our environment but also our economy.”

“It is an honor to be named the most sustainable state in the nation. State and local partnerships like the Green Communities program have propelled clean energy innovation across Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We are grateful for the hard work being done by our cities and towns to address climate change and protect public health. Local action is vital to reducing Massachusetts’ carbon emissions.”

“Massachusetts’ sustainability efforts stood out during our data analysis.” said Samantha Allen, Managing Editor at Forbes Home. “The state ranking second for the least water usage per capita, coupled with almost 20% of its energy being run on solar, showed Massachusetts’ commitment to conserving energy and using renewable resources, helping them land at the #1 spot overall.”

“Sustainability in Massachusetts means lower energy costs, cleaner air, and more just communities,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We have invested in solar and energy efficiency programs that have produced remarkable results and will continue building on this work to provide a cleaner and greener future. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of our clean energy workforce, municipalities, advocates, and our agencies.” 

“We are proud of the programs that make Massachusetts a national leader in energy efficiency and enabled our northern state to be a front-runner in solar development. The important work done by dedicated agency staff results in lower energy use and costs for residents and businesses, air pollution reductions, and healthier, more comfortable spaces to live and work in,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. “We’re excited to continue our work and implement programs that will help historically underserved communities enjoy the benefits of solar, advanced heating technologies and efficiency measures.”

“Water Conservation is a top priority at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. We work closely with our customer communities to ensure that we are using our most precious resource in a responsible manner, said Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Executive Director Fred Laskey. MWRA ratepayers use approximately 140 million gallons less of water every day than when the Authority was created nearly 40 years ago. Only through strong local partnerships was this made possible. We are proud of this progress and the Authority will continue to work to identify ways to become even more efficient in the future.”  

Massachusetts is a national leader in energy efficiency due to its award-winning Mass Save® program, building energy codes, and energy efficiency measures. Since 2010, Massachusetts has been named one of the most energy-efficient states in the nation by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Energy efficiency improvements help homeowners and businesses save money and reduce emissions. Mass Save has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 3.7 million metric tons, and has invested more than $1 billion in improvements for low-income households. For 2022-2024 programs, Mass Save increased investments and benefits to historically underserved communities – specifically renters, language-isolated customers, environmental justice municipalities, and small businesses. Massachusetts also saw a record number of heat pump installations in 2023.

Massachusetts’ solar programs have contributed to advancing the state’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, bolstering the cleantech workforce, and creating hundreds of businesses. Since 2010, over 140,000 solar projects, representing more than 4 gigawatts of clean energy, have been installed across the state through the Department of Energy Resources (DOER). In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Massachusetts $156 million through its Solar for All competition. This funding will support the deployment of 125 megawatts of solar capacity, provide a 20 percent reduction in energy costs to more than 31,000 low-income and disadvantaged households, support 2,800 clean energy jobs, and decrease annual carbon emissions by 70,500 tons.

Conserving water is critical to protecting natural resources, reducing the amount of energy needed to treat, pump, and heat water, and saving residents money. The Massachusetts Water Resources' (MWRA) Water Conservation and Efficiency programs help maintain regional water demand comfortably below the water supply system’s safe yield. MWRA provides water-efficient retrofit kits that include low-flow shower heads, faucet aerators, and leak detection dye tablets at no cost to residents and property owners to conserve and protect water resources. Water conservation also helps support regional wastewater flow below the required permit limit at the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant and contributes to MWRA’s reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.