Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting
The Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting (Commission) was established by Executive Order 620 in September 2023 and is tasked with reducing permitting timelines, ensuring communities have input in the siting and permitting of clean energy infrastructure, and ensuring that the benefits of the clean energy transition are shared equitably. The Commission was instructed to provide recommendations to the Governor on administrative, regulatory, and legislative changes to existing permitting and siting procedures by March 31, 2024.
The Commission was composed of a robust and diverse group of leaders representing sectors such as labor, environmental justice, economic development, housing and real estate, environmental protection and land use, agriculture, local government, electric utilities, and the clean energy industry.
Starting in October 2023, the full Commission met thirteen times through March 2024. On February 16, 2024, the Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting released questions for public input. The Commission accepted public comments through March 15, 2024. The Commission also held two listening sessions on March 4 and 5, 2024 to provide the public more information on its work and provide an opportunity for public comment.
On Friday, March 29, 2024, the Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting provided its final recommendations to Governor Maura Healey.
More information and all available documents can be found on the Commission’s webpage.
2024 Climate Act
On November 21, 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed into law An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity, and protecting ratepayers (2024 Climate Act). In addition to other provisions that advance the clean energy transition, the 2024 Climate Act contains historic and comprehensive reforms of the state’s siting and permitting processes for clean energy infrastructure. The Commonwealth is required to promulgate regulations and guidance to implement these reforms by March 1, 2026.
The reforms to the siting and permitting processes were based on the recommendations of Governor Healey’s Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting. The law establishes a 12-month deadline for municipal permitting and requires municipalities to issue a single permit at the end of their process. Similarly, state permits will be issued together by the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) after a 15-month period. Appeals will be directed the state Supreme Judicial Court, ending the years-long appeals process that has delayed vital infrastructure.
The law also makes improvements to equitable siting and the community engagement process, which has historically been challenging to navigate. Municipalities will be granted automatic intervenor status in EFSB proceedings. A fund to support municipalities, organizations, and individuals who lack the resources will benefit from a new fund to support their needs for qualified legal representation and expert analysis. The EFSB will also require a cumulative impact analysis for projects seeking to site in environmental justice communities, so that no neighborhood becomes overburdened with infrastructure that the entire state benefits from. The Office of Environmental Justice and Equity and the Division of Public Participation at the Department of Public Utilities – both established under Governor Healey – will be enshrined in law.
This infographic visualizes the new siting and permitting process for clean energy infrastructure.
Implementation of the 2024 Climate Act
Since the passage of the 2024 Climate Act, EFSB, DPU, DOER and EEA have been working to develop new regulations and guidance to implement the provisions of the Act. This work has been closely informed by stakeholder engagement.
Spring Stakeholder Sessions
In Spring 2025, the agencies held stakeholder sessions to provide information to the public on implementing the siting and permitting changes required by law for energy facilities, receive written and/or oral comments, and take questions on numerous straw proposals. Staff from EEA, EFSB, and DPU prepared straw proposals to elicit input from the public, public officials, other agencies, community-based organizations, and potential project applicants ahead of issuing proposed regulations later in the year. Each straw proposal was made available on this website approximately one week prior to the specified stakeholder meeting on that topic. Written comments were also accepted on each straw proposal.
Links to these straw proposals, written comments received, and more information on these straw proposals is available on the 2024 Climate Act Stakeholder Sessions webpage.
Regulatory Rulemakings and Draft Guidance
On September 8, 2025, the EFSB issued a Tentative Decision opening a rulemaking proceeding (EFSB 25-10) on its proposed regulations to implement reforms related to siting and permitting. These proposed regulations can be found on the EFSB 25-10 - Proposed Rulemaking webpage.
On September 12, 2025, the DPU opened a rulemaking proceeding (DPU-25-75) to establish an Intervenor Grant Support Program to provide financial assistance to eligible organizations, community groups, and certain governmental bodies who are unable to participate in proceedings before the DPU and EFSB because of financial hardship or lack of procedural knowledge.
On September 12, 2025, DOER released proposed regulations and guidelines that would guide the local siting and consolidated permitting process for small clean energy projects. The proposed regulations, 225 CMR 29.00, would establish standard conditions, criteria, requirements, and procedures for the efficient siting and permitting of small clean energy infrastructure facilities by local governments.
On September 12, 2025, EEA released its draft Guidance on Site Suitability Assessments for Clean Energy Infrastructure. The guidance describes the methodology for determining the suitability of sites for applicable energy infrastructure, and provides recommendations for using the site suitability methodology in the review of applications for consolidated permits by the EFSB and local governments.
On September 12, 2025, OEJE released its draft Standards and Guidelines for Community Benefits Plans and Agreements. These guidelines outline best practices to ensure CBPs and CBAs provide meaningful, measurable benefits to communities hosting energy infrastructure.
Information on public comment opportunities for these rulemakings can be found at mass.gov/energypermitting.