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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Request for Comments on Dashboard
The EFSB 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.
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!
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 12, 2025 |
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