Overview
In November 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed into law An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity and protecting ratepayers, St. 2024, c. 239 (the “2024 Climate Act”), which makes significant changes to the siting and permitting of energy infrastructure in Massachusetts.
The 2024 Climate Act requires the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (“OEJE”) to develop standards and guidelines regarding the potential use and applicability of cumulative impact analysis (“CIA”) for clean energy infrastructure. The 2024 Climate Act also requires the Energy Facilities Siting Board (“Siting Board”) to promulgate regulations and guidance to implement reforms related to siting and permitting by March 1, 2026, including regulations requiring the use of CIA in the Board’s review of facilities, informed by the guidance developed by OEJE.
On September 12, 2025, the EFSB initiated a rulemaking proceeding, docketed as EFSB 25-10, to implement the siting and permitting reforms required by the 2024 Climate Act. The CIA regulations are proposed to be codified as 980 CMR 15.00
To inform the development of these regulations and related guidance, in collaboration with Siting Board, OEJE issued presentations and draft guidance and conducted public meetings to receive stakeholder input. Based on the comments received, OEJE and EFSB developed draft guidance and accompanying regulations.
Cumulative Impact Analysis (CIA) Draft Guidance
On January 23, 2026, OEJE released a revised draft of the Standards and Guidelines for Cumulative Impact Analysis (January 2026). This revised draft reflects updates made following initial stakeholder feedback and is intended to further inform the development and implementation of cumulative impact analysis requirements for energy facility siting. The public comment period for the revised draft guidance is open through Friday, February 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM. All written comments should be submitted to ej.inquiries@mass.gov .
MassEnviroScreen
To support the implementation of energy siting and permitting reforms, OEJE has also released a draft version of the MassEnviroScreen mapping tool. This tool is designed to identify and prioritize the most environmentally vulnerable or burdened communities in Massachusetts. It is intended to support the guidance and regulations on cumulative impact analysis and site suitability assessments. To learn more about how MassEnviroScreen works and the data used, please refer to the Technical Documentation. As we continue to refine the tool, public feedback can be sent to ej.inquiries@mass.gov until Friday, February 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM.
Public Comment for CIA Regulations
On December 12th, 2025, the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) issued the draft proposed regulations 980 CMR 15.00 (Cumulative Impact Analysis/Site Suitability) and CIA Report Template ahead of a hybrid Siting Board meeting on Monday, December 15, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The meeting's objective was to deliberate and vote on a Tentative Decision opening a rulemaking to consider proposed regulations implementing the Cumulative Impact Analysis and Site Suitability Criteria provisions of the 2024 Climate Act”). The Tentative Decision is available at the following link. The Final Decision is available at the following link.
The Siting Board will conduct hybrid public comment hearings on the proposed regulations for CIA. The Siting Board will consider oral and written comments received and revise its Proposed Regulations accordingly. The Siting Board seeks written comments on the Proposed Regulations no later than Friday, February 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. All documents must be submitted to the Siting Board by e-mail attachment to dpu.efiling@mass.gov and sitingboard.filing@mass.gov. The text of the email must specify: (1) the docket number of the proceeding (EFSB 25-10-A); (2) the name of the person or company submitting the filing; and (3) a brief descriptive title of the document. The electronic filing should also include the name, title, and telephone number of a person to contact in the event of questions about the filing. Documents submitted in electronic format will be posted on the Siting Board’s webpage.
The Siting Board will conduct two hybrid public comment hearings with in-person and remote participation option, at the following date and location:
- Public Comment Hearing 1: Monday, February 2, 2026, 1:00 p.m. One South Station, Boston, MA 02110 3rd floor, Large Hearing Room
- Public Comment Hearing 2: Monday, February 2, 2026, 6:00 p.m. One South Station, Boston, MA 02110 3rd floor, Large Hearing Room
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: 885 2215 7975 If you anticipate providing comments during the public hearing (in person or remotely), please send an email by noon, the day of the hearing, to SitingBoard.Filing@mass.gov with the subject line “EFSB 25 10-A SPEAKER SIGN UP,” or leave a voice mail at (617) 305-3544. Please provide your name and email address by noon, February 2, 2026.
Previous Meetings and Webinars
December Board Meeting
The Energy Facilities Siting Board (“Siting Board”) conducted a hybrid Siting Board meeting in the Large Hearing Room at the Department of Public Utilities, One South Station, 3rd level, Boston, 02110, and using Zoom videoconferencing on Monday, December 15, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., to deliberate and vote on a Tentative Decision opening a rulemaking to consider proposed regulations implementing the Cumulative Impact Analysis and Site Suitability Criteria provisions of the 2024 Climate Act, St. 2024, c. 239 (the “Act”).
The agenda for the Board meeting is now available at the following link. (NEW): The slides for the Board meeting are available at the following link.
The Tentative Decision is available at the following link. The Final Decision is available at the following link.
CIA Webinar
The Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) and Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE) conducted a public webinar on Thursday, November 6th at 2:00pm to provide an overview of the proposed draft guidance and regulations for Cumulative Impact Analysis and provide an opportunity for public input. The draft guidance and regulation documents are posted above. The draft guidance drafted by the Massachusetts Office of Environmental Justice and Equity is meant to inform the draft proposed regulations, which are drafted by EFSB staff. The webinar precedes a formal rulemaking process that will include further opportunities for comment.
A recording of the webinar is now available on the Siting Board’s YouTube channel.
For this webinar, interpretation was provided in the following languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Russian, Khmer, Arabic, French, Cape Verdean Creole, and American Sign Language (ASL).
The Open Meeting Law Agenda is now available by clicking on the following link.
The slides used for the webinar are available in English, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cape Verdean Creole (Crioulo), Spanish, Portuguese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Khmer, Arabic, and Russian.