Overview
The Commonwealth has established new siting and permitting processes for clean energy infrastructure. Applications for permits under these new processes may be submitted to the Energy Facilities Siting Board and local governments starting on July 1, 2026.
The Clean Energy Siting and Permitting regulations and guidance implement An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity, and protecting ratepayers(2024 Climate Act).To address energy affordability and reliability needs as well as meet its required emissions limits set out in the Commonwealth’s Clean Energy and Climate Plan, Massachusetts will need to build a significant amount of new clean energy infrastructure in the coming decades; however, it is often delayed by siting and permitting challenges.
The new and amended regulations and guidance established by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB), Department of Energy Resources (DOER), and Department of Public Utilities (DPU) streamline the siting and permitting process, build in opportunities for meaningful stakeholder engagement, and strengthen protections for the environment and overburdened communities to ensure an efficient and responsible buildout of needed clean energy infrastructure in the Commonwealth.
The Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE), within EEA, has published Standards and Guidelines for Community Benefit Plans and Agreements. This guidance outlines best practices for providing meaningful, measurable benefits to communities hosting energy infrastructure.
Final Guidance
In March 2026, OEJE released Standards and Guidelines for Community Benefit Plans and Agreements. Community Benefit Plans and Community Benefit Agreements can play a crucial role in ensuring that the implementation of clean energy projects align with EJ principles by fostering inclusive participation and ensuring the benefits and burdens of the transition are equitably distributed.
This guidance is intended to complement regulations promulgated by the EFSB, governing the siting and permitting of Large Clean Energy Infrastructure Facilities and regulations promulgated by the DOER establishing standards, requirements, and procedures governing the siting and permitting of Small Clean Energy Infrastructure Facilities by Local Governments. For more information on all of these regulations, visit mass.gov/energypermitting.
Guidance Development
In September 2025, OEJE released a draft version of the Standards and Guidelines for Community Benefit Plans and Agreements. OEJE accepted written comments on the draft guidance submitted through October 31, 2025. All public comments received can be downloaded as a zip file here.
OEJE also held a public webinar to provide an overview of the draft CBP and CBA guidance, and to provide an additional opportunity for public input. A recording of this webinar is available to view here.
Archive of CBP and CBA Guidance Materials
Draft Standards and Guidelines for CBPs and CBAs (September 12, 2026), available in multiple languages
English | عربي (Arabic) | Kriolu di Cabo Verde (Cape Verdean Creole) | 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese) | Français (French) | Kreyòl ayisyen (Haitian Creole) | ខ្មែរ (Khmer) |한국인 (Korean) | Português (Portuguese) | Русский (Russian) | Español (Spanish) | Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
EEA Webinar Slides: Overview of EEA Guidance on Site Suitability Assessments and Community Benefit Plans and Agreements (October 9, 2025)
English | عربي (Arabic) | Kriolu di Cabo Verde (Cape Verdean Creole) | Français (French) | Kreyòl ayisyen (Haitian Creole) | ខ្មែរ (Khmer) | Português (Portuguese) | Русский (Russian) | 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese) | Español (Spanish) | Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)