Public Comment Hearings: January 13th & 14th, 2026
The Siting Board will conduct three hybrid public comment hearings with both in-person and remote participation options.
At each public comment hearing, National Grid will present an overview of the Project. Public officials and members of the public will have an opportunity to ask questions and comment on the Project. The public comment hearings will be transcribed by a court reporter. A recording of each public comment hearing will be posted to the Siting Board’s YouTube channel after that hearing.
The public comment hearings mark the beginning of a formal, state-level decision-making process in which the Siting Board will; (1) review National Grid’s proposed Project to ensure that it will provide a reliable energy supply with a minimum impact on the environment at the lowest possible cost, pursuant to G.L. c. 164, § 69J; and (2) determine whether the proposed Project is necessary, serves the public convenience, and is consistent with the public interest, pursuant to G.L. c. 164, § 72.
The hearings are scheduled as follows:
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Leicester Town Hall Gym 3 Washburn Square Leicester, MA 01524
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Deerfield Town Hall Main Meeting Room 8 Conway St South Deerfield, MA 01373
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Belchertown Town Hall Auditorium 2 Jabish St Belchertown, MA 01007
Remote attendees: join by using this link – from a computer, tablet, or smart device. For audio-only participation attendees can dial in at (646) 558-8656 (not a toll-free number) and then enter the Webinar ID: 873-9182-7695.
To provide oral comments at a public comment hearing (in person, on Zoom, or by telephone), notify Yonathan Mengesha at Yonathan.Mengesha@mass.gov or (617) 305-3544. Provide your name, email address, mailing address, and docket number (“EFSB 25-01”) by 5:00 p.m. the 2 day before the meeting. You can also sign up in person the day of the hearing beginning an hour before the hearing. Pre-registered commenters will speak first, and others will speak next. The Siting Board also invites written comments on the Project. Written comments will be most useful to the Siting Board if submitted by January 28, 2026. Persons or groups who wish to be involved in the Siting Board proceeding (beyond providing comments at the public comment hearing or in writing) may seek to intervene as a party or to participate as a limited participant. Any petition to intervene or participate must likewise be filed no later than January 28, 2026, and must follow the instructions below
The full notice for this hearing can be accessed at the following link.
Severe Weather Notification and Alternative Dates
In the event of severe weather, the Siting Board may postpone the public comment hearing(s). Any postponement will be announced on the Siting Board’s Project website (accessible via the URL link or QR code at the top of this notice’s first page) and the Zoom link for the public comment hearing. If any of the hearings is postponed, it will be rescheduled at the location and on the planned alternate date indicated below, and the deadlines for submitting public comments and filing for intervention or limited participant status will be extended as indicated below.
Important Dates:
Leicester Public Comment Hearing: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Alternate: January 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (Belchertown)
Deerfield Public Comment Hearing Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Alternate: January 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (in Belchertown)
Belchertown Public Comment Hearing Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Alternate: January 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (in Belchertown)
Written Public Comment Deadline Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. if any of the public comment hearings is postponed)
Deadline to file for intervention or limited participant status Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. if any of the public comment hearings is postponed)
Public Review of the Company's Petitions
A description of the Project, links to the Company’s petitions, attachments and analysis, and periodic updates are electronically available on the Siting Board’s webpage for the Project at Central-Western MA Energy Project | Mass.gov. The Company also maintains a webpage for the Project.
Hard copies of the Company’s petitions and attachments are available for public inspection at the following locations:
Millbury • Town Clerk’s Office, 127 Elm St., Millbury, MA 01527
• Millbury Public Library, 128 Elm St., Millbury, MA 01527 3
Auburn • Town Clerk’s Office, 104 Central St., Auburn, MA 01501
• Auburn Public Library, 369 Southbridge St., Auburn, MA 01501
Leicester • Town Clerk’s Office, 3 Washburn Sq., Leicester, MA 01524
• Leicester Public Library, 1136 Main St., Leicester, MA 01524
Spencer • Town Clerk’s Office, 157 Main St., Spencer, MA 01562 • Richard Sugden Library, 8 Pleasant St., Spencer, MA 01562
East Brookfield • Town Clerk, Memorial Town Complex, 122 Connie Mack Dr., East Brookfield, MA 01515
• East Brookfield Public Library, 122 Connie Mack Dr., East Brookfield, MA 01515
North Brookfield • Town Clerk’s Office, 215 N Main St., North Brookfield, MA 01535
• Haston Free Public Library, 161 N Main St., North Brookfield, MA 01535 West Brookfield ▪ Town Clerk’s Office, 2 E Main St., West Brookfield, MA 01585 ▪ Merriam-Gilbert Public Library, 3 W Main St., West Brookfield, MA 01585
Ware • Town Clerk’s Office, 126 Main Street, Suite F, Ware, MA 01082 • Ware Library, 37 Main St., Ware, MA 01082
Belchertown • Town Clerk’s Office, 2 Jabish St., Belchertown, MA 01007 • Clapp Memorial Library, 19 S Main St., Belchertown, MA 01007
Pelham • Pelham Town Office Building, 351 Amherst Rd., Pelham, MA 01002 • Pelham Public Library, 2 S Valley Rd., Pelham, MA 01002
Shutesbury • Town Clerk’s Office, 1 Cooleyville Rd., Shutesbury, MA 01072 • M.N. Spear Memorial Library, 10 Cooleyville Rd., Shutesbury, MA 01072
Leverett • Leverett Town Hall, 9 Montague Rd., Leverett, MA 01054 • Leverett Public Library, 75 Montague Rd., Leverett, MA 01054
Sunderland • Town Clerk’s Office, 12 School St., Sunderland, MA 01375 • Sunderland Public Library, 20 School St., Sunderland, MA 01375
Deerfield • Deerfield Town Hall, 8 Conway St., South Deerfield, MA 01373 • Tilton Public Library, 71 N Main St., South Deerfield, MA 01373
Conway • Conway Town Hall, 5 Academy Hill Rd., Conway, MA 01341 • Field Memorial Library, 1 Elm St., Conway, MA 01341
Shelburne • Town Clerk’s Office, 51 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 • Shelburne Free Public Library, 233 Shelburne Center Rd., Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Buckland • Buckland Town Hall, 17 State St., Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 • Buckland Public Library, 30 Upper St., Buckland, MA 01338
Intervention & Participation
Persons or groups who wish to participate in the Siting Board proceeding beyond providing comments at the public comment hearings or submitting written comments, may seek to intervene as a party or to participate as a limited participant.
“Intervenor" or “Party” Status: An intervenor can participate fully in the evidentiary phase of the proceeding, including participating in discovery (information gathering), participating in the evidentiary hearing, filing a brief, presenting comments to the Siting Board on the Tentative Decision, and appealing the Final Decision.
“Limited Participant” Status: A limited participant receives documents during the proceeding and may file a brief and present comments regarding the Tentative Decision to the Siting Board.
Instructions for Filing Written Comments and Requesting to Participate in a Proceeding
Any written comments on the Project and any petition to intervene or to participate as a limited participant in this proceeding must be sent to the following four email addresses: dpu.efiling@mass.gov ; Daniel.W.Keleher@mass.gov ; ckeuthen@keeganwerlin.com ; and cblaine@keeganwerlin.com
The filing deadline is January 28, 2026 (unless one of the public comment hearings is postponed, in which case the filing deadline will be February 11, 2026).
The e-mail accompanying the written comment or petition must specify: (1) the docket number of the proceeding (EFSB 25-01/D.P.U. 25-16); (2) the name of the person or entity submitting 5 the request; (3) a brief description of the document; and (4) the name, title, and telephone number of a person to contact with questions about the filing.
Any petition for intervention must state and explain the way or ways in which the requester may be specifically and substantially affected by the Project. Any petition for limited participation must describe the manner in which the petitioner is interested and the purpose for which participation is requested. For more information on the Siting Board’s procedural rules, please see the available link.
Accomodation Requests and Language Service Requests
Reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities (e.g., Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format) is available upon request. To request an accommodation, please contact: Melixza Esenyie - Non-Discrimination Coordinator and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Human Resources, 9th Floor 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, eeadiversity@mass.gov , 617-626-1282.
In your communication, state the accommodation you need and why you need it. Provide contact information in case the Coordinator needs more information. Provide one week’s advance notice. The Coordinator will consider but may not be able to fulfill late requests. Language interpretation services are available upon request to Yonathan Mengesha at (617) 305- 3544 or Yonathan.Mengesha@mass.gov.
Include in your request the language required and your contact information. To assist us in accommodating your request, please submit it as soon as possible and at least one week before the date of the public comment hearing.
Non-Discrimination Notice
The Siting Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, income, ethnicity, class, disability, religious creed or belief, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, English language proficiency, or ancestry in administration of its programs or activities. See the Siting Board’s Non-Discrimination Notice.
If you have any questions about this notice or any of the Siting Board’s non-discrimination programs, policies, or procedures or believe the Siting Board has discriminated against you, you may contact Melixza Esenyie (see above for contact information) for more information.
Contact
For further information about the proceeding, please contact the Presiding Officer at the address or telephone number below:
Daniel Keleher, Co-Presiding Officer
Energy Facilities Siting Board
One South Station Boston, MA 02110
Daniel.W.Keleher@mass.gov or (617) 305-3623
Project Information
National Grid asserts that the Project, with projected costs of $896.9 million, is needed to ensure reliable electric service to approximately 24,000 customers across twelve municipalities in Massachusetts. National Grid states that the Existing Lines were constructed in 1900, reconductored in 2001, and reinsulated in 2020 and that they are among the oldest transmission lines in New England. National Grid contends that the Existing Lines are also among the Company’s worst performing transmission lines, due in large part to the lattice design of the transmission line supporting structures. The Existing Lines, each approximately 67 miles long, pass through the towns of Millbury, Auburn, Leicester, Spencer, East Brookfield, North Brookfield, West Brookfield, Ware, Belchertown, Pelham, Shutesbury, Leverett, Sunderland, Deerfield, Conway, Shelburne, and Buckland. The Company expects to start constructing the Project in April of 2029 and conclude in April of 2035. The Project consists of: (1) removing existing 69 kV transmission lines and rebuilding them to a 115 kV design within the existing electric transmission right-of-way between the Millbury #305 Substation and the Deerfield #4 Substation; (2) reconstructing the Quabbin Switch Tap Line, the Shutesbury Tap Line, and the Deerfield #3 Tap Lines; and (3) improving, establishing, and constructing access roads. Future operation of the Rebuilt Lines at 115 kV would require substation upgrades that are not part of the Project. A general map of the Project area is shown below, and an interactive map of the Project is available at the following link: New England Power Company - National Grid Central to Western Mass.
Descriptions of each component of the Project appear below the map.
7 Route Descriptions
Millbury: The Rebuilt Lines would begin near Branch River at the Millbury Station in Millbury, run along Providence Street, cross the Blackstone River Bikeway intersecting the Providence and Worcester Railroad, and continue along South Main Street (intersecting Woodland Street, Sycamore Street, and Singletary Brook). The Rebuilt Lines would continue north through Elm Street, where they would intersect Worcester-Providence Turnpike (State Route 146) before passing through Elmwood Street, Shaw Schools Recreational Fields, and Witter Lane. From there, the Rebuilt Lines would pass Greenwood Street and intersect Dwinell Road before entering Auburn.
Auburn: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Auburn and cross Washington Street to connect with the Pondville Substation before proceeding west, where they would intersect Ramshorn Brook, the Penn Central Railroad/Norwich, and Worcester Railroad. The Rebuilt Lines would continue west, passing through Hillside Cemetery and intersecting Central Street and Saratoga Road before crossing Interstate 90. The Rebuilt Lines would then cross Interstate 290 and pass through Auburn Recreation Complex (also known as Oxford Street Recreation Area), which is adjacent to Bayman Street. From there, the Rebuilt Lines would intersect Oxford Street, continue past Bryn Mawr Avenue, cross Dark Brook and run west, intersecting Leicester Street, Chapin Brook, Rochdale Street, Penn Central Railroad, and Drake Court. The Rebuilt Lines would cross Chapin Brook and Leicester Street before entering Leicester.
Leicester: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Leicester, transect Stafford Street and Henshaw Street, cross Grindstone Brook and Bunker Hill Road, and continue to Peter Salem Road, connecting with the Leicester Substation. The Rebuilt Lines would continue west and then transect Peter Salem Road, Pleasant Street and Memorial Drive. The Rebuilt Lines would continue southwest and cross Town Meadow Brook and Burncoat Brook, continue west, and then cross Pine Street and Charles Street before continuing northwest to pass through Burncoat Brook again as they enter Spencer.
Spencer: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Spencer and continue northwest, crossing Greenville Street, R Jones Road, Spencer State Forest and Midstate Trail (an unpaved road). The Rebuilt Lines would continue northwest and intersect Ash Street, continue to Ashview Drive connecting to Maple Street, cross Charlton Road and continue past Pleasant View Road and Bixby Road Circle and continue northwest towards the intersection of West Main Street and Bixby Road. The Rebuilt Lines would cross the intersection of Olde Main Street and Meadow Road before connecting to the Meadow Street Substation. From there, they would continue west over the Seven Mile River, crossing Smithville Road before they enter East Brookfield.
East Brookfield: The Rebuilt Lines would enter East Brookfield, continue northwest to connect to the Harrington Switchyard, and then cross over Lake Lashway before entering North Brookfield.
North Brookfield: Crossing over Lake Lashway, the Rebuilt Lines would enter North Brookfield, cross Shore Road and the Five Mile River. From there, they would transect Old East Brookfield Road, continue through a wooded area and cross over the Penn Central Railroad before crossing Dunn Brook. The Rebuilt Lines would pass through the intersection of East Brookfield Road and Donovan Road, then over the Forget-Me-Not-Brook before connecting with the Lashaway Substation. From the substation, the Rebuilt Lines would continue northwest through the Donovan Road Conservation Area where they transect Fullman Road near Fullam 8 Hill Road Conservation Area, Brookfield Road, and West Brookfield Road.
The Rebuilt Lines would enter the North Brookfield Town Forest, intersecting McCarthy Road before crossing Coys Brook and continue northwest, crossing Old West Brookfield Road, Coys Brook, and Tucker Cross Road. The Rebuilt Lines then would cross Smith and Hanson Road before entering West Brookfield.
West Brookfield: The Rebuilt Lines would enter West Brookfield, cross Wigwam Road, New Braintree Road, and Birch Hill Road, enter the West Brookfield State Forest, cross Sucker Brook and Shea Road. The Rebuilt Lines would continue west and cross Madden Road, Mill Brook, Wickaboag Valley Road, Ragged Hill Road, John Gilbert Road, Lamberton Brook, Cedar Drive, and Peirce Road before passing through Rock House Reservation and Corydon W Kibbe Agricultural Preservation Restriction Area as they enter Ware.
Ware: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Ware and cross Gilbertville Road (Route 32) before connecting to the Ware Substation. From there, they would continue past the CSX Transportation Railroad, cross the Ware River, Church Street, Old Gilbertville Road, Sheehy Road, the Muddy Brook, Greenwich Road, Sorel Road, Osborne Road, and finally the Flat Brook. The Rebuilt Lines then would cross Old Poor Farm Road, King George Drive, Greenwich Plains Road, and Fisherdick Road, the Quabbin Reservoir Watershed, Beaver Brook, Peppers Mill Pond, Old-Ware Enfield Road, Belchertown Road, Webster Road, and Belchertown Road again.
The Rebuilt Lines would continue through the Quabbin Reservoir Watershed and cross the Swift River into Belchertown.
Belchertown: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Belchertown and continue through the Quabbin Watershed Reservoir, cross Winsor Dam Road, and then run between Blue Meadow Road and the Quabbin Reservoir, where they would connect to the Quabbin Switch Substation. The Rebuilt Lines would continue northwest, transect Cold Spring Road, then continue through the Quabbin Reservoir Watershed, crossing Warner Street, Earley Street, and Old Enfield Road before continuing north along the Quabbin Reservoir to enter Pelham.
Pelham: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Pelham and continue northwest into the Quabbin Reservoir Watershed to cross Packardville Road, Cadwell Creek, and the Daniel Shays Highway. The Rebuilt Lines would continue into the Cadwell Memorial Forest and cross Dunlop Brook and Amherst Road. They would continue northwest and cross over the Amethyst Brook and North Valley Road before continuing through the Buffam Brook Road Conservation Area and then crossing Buffam Road to enter Shutesbury.
Shutesbury: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Shutesbury, pass through the Amherst Watershed, and then cross Dean Brook, Sand Hill Road, Nurse Brook, and Pratt Corner Road before connecting to the Shutesbury Substation. The Rebuilt Lines are then proposed to cross over Nurse Brook again before entering Leverett.
Leverett: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Leverett and continue northwest, crossing Roaring Brook and Cushman Road. They would then cross Doolittle Brook in the Beaver Pond Conservation Area, Depot Road, Amherst Road, Long Plain Road, and the New England Central Railroad before entering Sunderland. Sunderland: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Sunderland through the Mount Toby State Forest and Mount Toby Wildlife Management Area before crossing Montague Road, Chard Pond, and 9 Falls Road. The Rebuilt Lines would then run along Gunn Brook and cross over the Connecticut River into Deerfield.
Deerfield: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Deerfield, cross River Road, and then continue to the west, crossing Clapp Brook, Steam Mill Road, the Boston and Maine Railroad, and Massachusetts Route 10. The Rebuilt Lines would then cross the Fuller Swamp Brook and Mill Village Road adjacent to farmland to continue through woods and farmland and ultimately cross Interstate 91. The Rebuilt Lines would then run parallel to Sand Gully Road, cross Stillwater Road, Hoosac Road, and the Deerfield River to enter Conway.
Conway: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Conway adjacent to the Deerfield River and Mohawk Trail, cross over the South River, Bardwells Ferry Road, and the Boston and Maine Railroad before entering Shelburne.
Shelburne: The Rebuilt Lines would enter Shelburne and cross the Deerfield River near Dragon Brook and Orchard Road. They would continue northwest before crossing Barnard Road. The Rebuilt Lines would then run parallel to the Deerfield River before connecting to the Deerfield #2 Substation. They would then run parallel to the Boston and Maine Railroad, cross over the Deerfield River again and then the Mohawk Trail. From there, the Rebuilt Lines would proceed north where a tap line connects to the Deerfield #3 Substation across the Deerfield River.
The remainder of the Rebuilt Lines would continue northwest before terminating at Deerfield #4 Station near Main Street. Descriptions of Tap Line Replacements Quabbin Switching Tap: The Project includesreplacing the two tap lines in Belchertown that would connect with the Rebuilt Lines at the Quabbin Switching Tap and Tower near Blue Meadow Road.
Quabbin Switching Tap extends approximately 0.1 miles to Quabbin Switching Tower in Belchertown. Deerfield #3 Taps: The Company also proposes replacing the two tap lines that would connect to the Rebuilt Lines at the Deerfield Generating Station north of the Deerfield River in Shelburne. The Deerfield #3 Taps extend approximately 0.5 miles to the Deerfield #3 Generating Station in Buckland. Shutesbury #704 Tap: The Company proposes replacing the two tap lines that would connect to the Rebuilt Lines at the Shutesbury #704 Substation near the Pratt Corner Road. The Shutesbury #704 Taps extend approximately 0.02 miles to the Shutesbury #704 Substation in Shutesbury.
Project Filing with EFSB
- Company's Section 72 Petition
- Company's 69J Petition
- Application to Support 69J Petition Volume 1
- Resident Outreach Information
- Information on Project Need
- Information on Project Alternatives
- Route Selection Process
- Construction Description
- Description of Environmental Impacts
- Description of Cost Impact of Project
- Environmental Justice Considerations
- Company Position on Global Warming Solutions Act Compliance
- Route Map Overview
All documents related filed in relation to a proceeding are posted to the DPU Fileroom. The Fileroom page for a proceeding represents the official record for that proceeding. The public can access the Fileroom page for this proceeding at the following link:
Useful Information
EFSB Siting and Permitting Reform Updates
For more detailed information on the Siting process: Energy Facilities Siting Board Handbook (updated 2019) | Guía para fijar la ubicación de instalaciones energéticas (2019)
Contact
Department of Public Utilities Siting Division
For further information about the proceeding, please contact the Presiding Officer at the address or telephone number below:
Daniel Keleher, Presiding Officer
Energy Facilities Siting Board
One South Station
Boston, MA 02110
(617)-305-3623
daniel.w.keleher@mass.gov
Phone
EFSB/DPU Siting Division Call Department of Public Utilities Siting Division, EFSB/DPU Siting Division at (617) 305-3525
DPU Main Call Department of Public Utilities Siting Division, DPU Main at (617) 305-3500
Address
Department of Public Utilities
1 South Station, 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02110