Ethanol Laws and Incentives in Massachusetts

The list below contains summaries of all Massachusetts laws and incentives related to ethanol.

Laws and Regulations

Alternative Fuel Offering Requirement

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation may not enter into, renew, or renegotiate a contract with a fuel provider for services on the Massachusetts Turnpike without requiring the provider to offer alternative fuel. Alternative fuel is defined as an energy source that is used to power a vehicle and is not gasoline or diesel.

(Reference Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 6C, Section 75 and Chapter 90, Section 1)

State Agency Alternative Fuel Use Requirement

All Massachusetts agencies must use a minimum of 15% biodiesel (B15) in all on- and off-road diesel engines, provided that the Commonwealth Office of Vehicle Management and other appropriate agencies have determined that a B15 goal is appropriate. Each year, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) must set minimum percentage requirements for E85 use in state flexible fuel vehicles, depending on the availability of the fuel in the state. Agencies may apply for exemptions from the biodiesel and E85 fuel use requirements if the agencies demonstrate that the alternative fuel is not available within a reasonable distance, cannot be purchased by state vehicle operators through state procurement, or the price of the alternative fuel is cost prohibitive, as determined by DOER.

(Reference Massachusetts Executive Office of Administration and Finance Administrative Bulletin 13, 2006)

State Electric Vehicle (EV) and Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Acquisition Requirements

When purchasing new motor vehicles, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must purchase HEVs or AFVs to the maximum extent feasible and consistent with the ability of such vehicles to perform their intended functions. HEVs and AFVs must be acquired at a rate of at least 5% annually for all new motor vehicle purchases so that not less than 50% of the motor vehicles the Commonwealth owns and operates will be HEVs or AFVs by 2018.

Whenever possible, agencies must select Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) to fulfill their business needs. If a BEV does not meet these needs, agencies shall select the most fuel-efficient and/or least carbon-emitting option based on their needs, with the following acquisition hierarchy: * BEV/Fuel Cell EV * Plug-in HEV * HEV, AFV, or other technologies approved by OVM * Internal combustion vehicle that is the most efficient in its class

By July 1 of each year, OVM must compile a report detailing the progress made towards these requirements. For more information, see the OVM Fleet Policies website.

(Reference Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 7, Section 9A)

select a state Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Federal