Certificate for Oakham BESS

EFSB 26-01: On behalf of Moraga Storage LLC, attached please find its Initial Petition and Application for a Certificate of Environmental Impact and Public Interest.

Evidentiary Hearing (October 2026)

The Siting Board will conduct an initial remote evidentiary hearing to collect evidence related to Moraga’s Initial Petition and Application, beginning on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

The Notice is now accessible via the available link (PDF). 

Meeting Details TBA

Important Dates

(1) An individual or organization seeking to participate in the proceeding as an intervenor or limited participant must file a petition with the EFSB by September 8, 2026, (see instructions below);
(2) Any person may submit written comments to the EFSB by September 8, 2026, (instructions below). Your written comments help inform the Siting Board about public concerns regarding the Certificate request and important issues for review in the proceeding.
Intervenors or limited participants in EFSB 25-07 are automatically granted the same status in this proceeding (EFSB 26-01) without need of filing a new petition.

A petition to intervene must demonstrate that the petitioner may be substantially and specifically affected by this proceeding. 

Petitions to intervene or participate must satisfy the requirements of 980 CMR 1.05, the Siting Board’s procedural rules, which are on the Siting Board’s website. 

Both petitions to intervene or participate on a limited basis and written comments must be filed with: (1) the Siting Board in electronic format, by e-mail attachment to [e-mail] ; (2) the presiding officer at [e-mail] ; and (3) Moraga’s counsel at [e-mail] 

 The text of the e-mail must specify: (1) the docket number of the proceeding (EFSB 26-01); (2) the name of the person or entity submitting the filing; and (3) a brief description of the document. 

The electronic filing should also include the name, title, telephone number, and e-mail address of a person to contact in the event of questions about the filing.

Moraga Project Description

Moraga proposes to install 184 lithium-ion batteries, a substation, and other equipment to allow for the transmission of electricity between the batteries and an adjacent and already established transmission line. The Project would be constructed on an approximately 42.9-acre parcel of land (“Project Site”) in the Town of Oakham. The Project construction envelope (encompassing all the work for the Project, including the storage of materials) would consist of approximately 18 acres, and the Project itself, once completed, would have a footprint of about 10.8 acres. A portion of the proposed Project Site was formerly an auto salvage and recycling facility.

The Company proposes to connect the batteries to an adjacent existing overhead 115-kV transmission line (Line A127-4) owned by Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid via an air-insulated substation, an on-site overhead 115 kV line tap that extends about 250 feet, and a 3-breaker ring bus.

OVERVIEW OF THE SITING BOARD’S REVIEW PROCESS
In this adjudication, the Siting Board will review Moraga’s Initial Petition and Application, which were filed together on June 30, 2026. On July 24, 2026, the Chair of the Siting Board issued a Determination Letter providing that the Siting Board would: (1) accept Moraga’s Initial Petition for a Certificate; (2) consolidate Moraga’s Initial Petition with its Application; (3) defer a decision on the merits of the Initial Petition; and (4) adjudicate Moraga’s Initial Petition and Application concurrently.

Permits Requested by the Company

Pursuant to St. 2024, c. 239, § 118, the Company seeks a Certificate that would include the following nine approvals and permits required for the Project:

1. An approval that is the equivalent of an Order of Conditions for the Project issued by the Oakham Conservation Commission pursuant to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. c. 131, § 40) and its implementing regulations (310 CMR 10.00).
2. An approval that is the equivalent of a Determination of Applicability issued by the Department of Conservation and Recreation pursuant to the Massachusetts Watershed Protection Act (Chapter 36 of the Acts of 1992, M.G.L. c. 92A1/2) and its implementing regulations (313 CMR 11.00).
3. An approval that is the equivalent of a Building Permit issued by the Oakham Building Commissioner pursuant to 780 CMR.
4. An approval that is the equivalent of an Electrical Permit issued by the Oakham Wiring Inspector pursuant to 527 CMR 12.00.
5. An approval that is the equivalent of a Road Opening/Trench Permit(s) in the Town of Oakham, pursuant to G.L. c. 82A and 520 CMR 14.00 ordinarily issued by the Oakham Highway Department.
6. An approval that is the equivalent of a Driveway Permit in the Town of Oakham, pursuant to Chapter XVI of the Oakham General Bylaws, ordinarily issued by the Oakham Highway Department.
7. An approval that is the equivalent of a Demolition Permit issued by the Oakham Building Commissioner.
8. An approval that is the equivalent of a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Oakham Building Commissioner pursuant to 780 CMR.
9. An approval that is the equivalent of a Fire Permit issued by the Oakham Fire Department pursuant to the Massachusetts Fire Code, 527 CMR 1.00 et seq.

Initial Filing with EFSB

Contact

For further information about the proceeding, please contact the Presiding Officer at the contact information below: 

Daniel Keleher

Presiding Officer Energy Facilities Siting Board 

One South Station Boston, Floor 3, Boston, MA 02110

 [e-mail]  

[phone] 

Useful Information

EFSB and DPU Siting Process

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)

Energy facility siting laws and regulations listing

Siting Related Links