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 promulgated regulations and guidance to implement these reforms. This webpage provides required information for the Consolidated Permit Dashboard, and updates regarding the EFSB's required promulgation of regulations and guidance.
Consolidated Permit Regulations
Final regulations for consolidated permits applications can be accessed by the following links:
- 980 CMR 1.00 (Adjudicatory Procedures)
- 980 CMR 2.00 (Board Procedures)
- 980 CMR 13.00 (Consolidated Permit Application)
- 980 CMR 14.00 (De Novo Adjudication Procedures)
- 980 CMR 15.00 (Cumulative Impact Analysis/Site Suitability)
- 980 CMR 16.00 (Pre-Filing Engagement)
- 980 CMR 17.00 (Construction Approval Procedures)
- 220 CMR 32.00 (EFSB Fees)
- 220 CMR 34.00 (Intervenor Grant Support)
Click the following link to access the EFSB's statutes and regulations.
Guidance Documents
Siting Board staff is the process of creating and updating guidance for different stakeholders regarding consolidated permits.
Draft Regulations Guidance
August 21, 2026: These documents implement certain EFSB-related portions of the 2024 Climate Act. St. 2024, c. 239. We are providing these draft documents for your review and comment. Please provide any comments by close-of-business Friday, September 11, 2026. Written comments must be sent to the following two email addresses: dpu.efiling@mass.gov and sitingboard.filing@mass.gov.
- 980 CMR 13.00 Baseline Standards (clean, updated August 21, 2026)
- 980 CMR 13.00 Baseline Standards (redlined from April 3, 2026 version)
- 980 CMR 13.00 Common Conditions (clean, updated August 21, 2026)
- 980 CMR 13.00 Common Conditions (redlined from April 3, 2026 version)
- 980 CMR 13.00 Application Completeness Checklist
Regulations Guidance
- 980 CMR 13.00 Consolidated Permit Application Guidance (TBA, last updated February 2026)
- 980 CMR 15.00 CIA Report Template
- 980 CMR 16.00 Pre-filing Engagement Completion Checklist
- 220 CMR 32.00 EFSB Fee Schedule
Outreach Materials
Below are links to presentations and other outreach material used by the Siting Board regarding education and implementation of the new regulations:
- September 2026 Siting and Permitting 101: Large Clean Energy Infrastructure Projects (PDF)
- September 2026 MACC Webinar on BESS (EFSB/DPU Slides) (TBA)
- August 2026 MMLA Presentation on Consolidated Permitting (PDF)
- July 2026 EBC Webinar on Cumulative Impact Analysis and Site Suitability (TBA)
- June 2026 AGO/OEJE EJ Summit Slides on CIA Regulations
- June 2026 MACC Webinar on Large CEIF Consolidated Permitting (PDF)
- April 2026 RENEW Siting and Permitting Reforms Slides (PDF)
- Fall 2025 Regulation Public Hearing Slides (Spanish | Brazilian Portuguese | Haitian Creole | Simplified Chinese | Vietnamese)
Other Guidance
Implementation Updates
The Department and Siting Board issued straw proposals, and conducted public meetings to hear comments on the straw proposals. Based on comments received, the Siting Board and Department drafted the proposed regulations. 2024 Climate Act Stakeholder Sessions | Mass.gov. Siting Division staff issued for discussion purposes draft proposed regulations and guidance in July, then the Siting Board conducted a public meeting to hear comments on the draft proposed regulations. Based on comments received, Siting Division staff revised the proposed regulations. 2024 Climate Act July Regulations Meeting | Mass.gov. On September 8, 2025, the Siting Board heard staff presentations on the revised regulations and guidance proposals, and voted to open a formal rulemaking process. EFSB 25-10 - Proposed Rulemaking | Mass.gov. The main regulations package required by the 2024 Climate Act was promulgated February 27, 2026, with the final regulations promulgated on June 5, 2026. The regulations are available above.
Additional Updates
September 2, 2025: As required by Section 120 of the 2024 Climate Act, the Siting Board completed a management study to assess (1) the likely future workload of the Siting Board; (2) workforce qualifications needed; (3) costs associated with hiring; and (4) maintenance of a clean energy infrastructure dashboard. The study is available at the following link.
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.
June 5, 2026: The DPU filed regulations for the EFSB's fees with the Secretary of State -- 220 CMR 32.00 (PDF). The DPU also issued a corresponding fee schedule (PDF) with the regulations.
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!
Consolidated Permits Dashboard
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. As of August 10, 2026, there have been zero applications for a consolidated permit.
| 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.
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.
Please use this form to sign up to receive notifications from the EFSB regarding upcoming proceedings and regulations.
| Last updated: | September 18, 2026 |
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