The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities is suspending a mandate designed to push public utilities to enter into contracts with local renewable energy providers.
Officials said on Thursday that the DPU has decided to suspend the requirement after TransCanada Power filed a lawsuit. The company is based out of Canada but has offices in Westborough.
Under the changes, utilities will be allowed to work out long-term contracts with out-of-state providers too.
The push to purchase energy from renewable providers was included in the state's 2008 Green Communities Act.