Page Overview
The 2024 Climate Act, which was signed by Governor Healey in November 2024, contains comprehensive siting and permitting reforms for clean energy infrastructure. The Act charges the EFSB with issuing a single consolidated permit to clean energy facilities, accelerating the deployment of clean energy infrastructure, ensuring communities are meaningfully engaged, and requiring that benefits of the clean energy transition are shared equitably in the Commonwealth. The EFSB is required to promulgate regulations and guidance to implement these reforms by March 1, 2026. These regulations will streamline the siting and permitting process and incorporate stronger stakeholder engagement opportunities while strengthening protections for the environment and overburdened communities. Through the new regulations, the Commonwealth can ensure that necessary clean energy infrastructure can be built quickly and include input from communities throughout the process.
This webpage provides required information for the Clean Energy Infrastructure Dashboard, and updates regarding the EFSB's required promulgation of regulations and guidance.
Dashboard Data
The 2024 Climate Act requires the Dashboard to have some minimum features and metrics, in the most recent reporting period and in the aggregate number of applications filed, decided or pending.
| Dashboard Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of applications deemed incomplete | 0 |
| Number of applications constructively approved | 0 |
| Average duration of application review | TBD |
| Average staffing levels | TBD |
Metrics descriptions
- Number of applications deemed incomplete: The 2024 Climate Act requires the EFSB review an application and make a determination within 30 days of the application filing whether the application in complete. The 2024 Climate Act requires the EFSB promulgate procedural regulations governing completeness determination no later than March 1, 2026 for applications submitted to the EFSB on and after July 1, 2026.
- Number of applications constructively approved: Constructive approval means that a project is automatically granted a permit because the EFSB was not able to issue a decision by its statutory deadlines as described in the 2024 Climate Act. The 2024 Climate Act requires the EFSB promulgate procedural regulations governing constructive approval permits no later than March 1, 2026 for applications submitted to the EFSB on and after July 1, 2026.
- Average duration of application review: The 2024 Climate Act requires the EFSB develop standard procedural schedules establish timeframes for reviewing different types of clean energy infrastructure facilities, up to 6, 12 or 15 months depending on facility type. The 2024 Climate Act requires the EFSB promulgate procedural regulations governing constructive approval permits no later than March 1, 2026 for applications submitted to the EFSB on and after July 1, 2026.
- Average staffing levels delineated by job classification: The EFSB is supported by the staff of the Department of Public Utilities' Siting Division. This staff includes a Director, General Counsel, Assistant Director, Program Coordinator, Analysts and Presiding Officers.
Existing pending reviews
Current pending dockets before the EFSB are on the EFSB's open dockets page.
Spring Stakeholder Sessions
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (“EEA”) Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (“OEJE”), EFSB, Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”), and Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”) invite you to attend stakeholder sessions to learn about implementing the siting and permitting changes required by law for energy facilities, provide written and/or oral comments, and ask questions on numerous straw proposals (topics below). Staff from EEA, EFSB, and DPU prepared the 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 this year. Each straw proposal will be available on the Climate Act Stakeholder Sessions webpage approximately one week prior to the specified stakeholder meeting on that topic. There will not be an opportunity to discuss any pending or future proposals about specific projects.
For periodic updates on the stakeholder sessions, please visit the Climate Act Stakeholder Sessions webpage.
Request for Comments on Dashboard
The EFSB staff also request comments on the content and format of the Dashboard required by the 2024 Climate Act. The 2024 Climate Act requires that the Siting Board convene a “stakeholder process” to develop and inform the design and content of the Dashboard. This request for comment seeks to obtain such input from stakeholders. Please read the following document for more information and specific questions that the EFSB staff have: English | Arabic | Cape Verdean Creole | French | Haitian Creole | Khmer | Korean | Portuguese | Russian | Simplified Chinese | Spanish | Vietnamese
You can use this comment form to provide comments or send your comments to sitingboard.filing@mass.gov.
Implementation Updates
March 26, 2025: The EFSB has issued a memorandum with guidance on filing zoning exemptions and petitions to construct transmission lines in light of the 2024 Climate Act becoming effective on February 18, 2025.
(NEW) Career Opportunities
Available positions with the EFSB will be posted here, as well as on MassCareers. You will be joining a mission-driven team with diverse skillsets. Please keep a look out for these exciting new opportunities amidst the clean energy transition in the Commonwealth!
Note: The first 14-day priority period for applicants to these positions has elapsed. Those applicants will received preferential consideration. There will be new opportunities posted in the future. Thank you for your interest!
February 27, 2025: The EFSB is hiring for the following positions right now! Please note that applications received in the first 14-days of the posting receive priority over subsequent applications. The positions below are all for technical analyst positions and are grouped by years of experience required. All of these jobs are hybrid with a flexible office schedule
Environmental Analyst II/Economist II (or Energy Facilities Siting Analyst)
Environmental Analyst III (or Energy Facilities Siting Analyst)
Regional Planner IV (or Energy Facilities Senior Siting Analyst)
May 9, 2025: Counsel II
Contact
The EFSB is developing guidance and draft regulations to implement the siting and permitting provisions of the 2024 Climate Act. More information, including public engagement events, will be provided on this page. You can use this comment form to provide any questions or comments or send an email to sitingboard.filing@mass.gov.
| Last updated: | May 9, 2025 |
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