Law360, New York (January 13, 2014, 6:03 PM EST) -- Massachusetts has proposed new regulations designed to result in 1,600 megawatts ("MW") of installed solar generation by 2020. Experiencing Boston weather in January, it may be hard to believe that Massachusetts is ranked sixth nationally — ahead of Hawaii and New Mexico — in installed solar electric capacity, but it is. There is a strong industry of solar developers, financiers and installers active in Massachusetts. In May 2013, the solar industry surpassed the goal of Gov. Deval Patrick's administration to have 250 MW of solar electric capacity installed in Massachusetts by 2017. As of Jan. 1, 2014, that amount had grown to 425 MW. How does a state not known for its sunny climate achieve such advances in solar power? The answer is a well-developed regulatory initiative and the eager response of market participants. Given the early success of Massachusetts solar development, Gov. Patrick's administration announced its new solar goal of 1,600 MW of in-state installed solar by 2020. Past success and the new proposed solar regulations provide good reason to believe that this new goal will be met....