Certificate Proceeding
On June 30, 2026, pursuant to Section 118 of Chapter 239 of the Acts of 2024, Hillman filed an Initial Petition and Application with the EFSB seeking the Siting Board to issue 15 state and local permits required for construction and operation of a battery energy storage system (“BESS”) facility and related infrastructure (the “Project”) at 73-75 Hillman Street in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
On September 1, 2026, Hillman Energy Center, LLC requested that the Energy Facilities Siting Board grant its motion to withdraw its Petition and Application for a Certificate of Environmental Impact and Public Interest and terminate this proceeding.
See the full motion to withdraw.
Final Decision
As of June 30th, 2026 the Final Decision can now be accessed by clicking on the available link.
An Appellate Court filing for this docket is available at this link.
Board Meeting (June 2026)
6/29: Staff's proposed amendments sheet is available at this link.
The Siting Board met in-person and on Zoom at 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. In-person meeting location: One South Station, Boston, 3rd floor, Large Hearing Room. Written comments on the Tentative Decision were due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026.
The recording for this meeting will be made available on the Siting Board's YouTube Channel. The Notice for this Board Meeting can now be viewed via the available link. The Open Meeting Law Agenda can now be viewed via the available link.
The Tentative Decision can be accessed by clicking on the available link.
Evidentiary Hearings (February 2026)
The Siting Division will hold virtual evidentiary hearings regarding the above proceeding.
Remote Attendees: please click on the available link.
Dial-In Instructions:
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Webinar ID: 874 3884 1205
October Public Comment Hearing
The Siting Board will conduct a hybrid public comment hearing, with in-person and remote participation options on:
Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Tewksbury Memorial High School Auditorium
320 Pleasant Street
Tewksbury, MA 01876
Remote attendees: join by using the following 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: 884-0863-9744
To provide oral comments during the hearing (in person, on Zoom, or by telephone), notify Yonathan Mengesha at Yonathan.Mengesha@mass.gov or (617) 305-3544. Please provide your name, email address, mailing address, and docket number (“EFSB 25-08”) by Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Pre-registered commenters will speak first and others will speak afterwards.
The Siting Board also invites written comments on the Project. Written comments will be most useful to the Siting Board if submitted by Friday, October 24, 2025. Persons or groups who wish to be involved in the Siting Board proceeding (beyond providing comments at the public comment hearing or in writing) may seek to intervene as a party or to participate as a limited participant.
The video recording of this hearing is now available for viewing through the following link.
Project Information
On April 1, 2025, Hillman Energy Center, LLC petitioned the Energy Facilities Siting Board (“the Siting Board” or “EFSB”), pursuant to G.L. c. 40A, § 3, to grant individual and comprehensive exemptions from the Town of Tewksbury, Massachusetts Zoning Bylaw (the “Zoning Bylaw”) to construct a 125 megawatt (“MW”) Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) and related infrastructure, including a new electric substation, on approximately 4.3 acres of previously developed industrial land located at 73-75 Hillman Street, as well as an approximately 1,200 foot long new electric transmission interconnection (“the Proposed Transmission Interconnection”) across three parcels of land; two are owned by New England Power Company d/b/a National Grid (“National Grid”) and the third is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (“MBTA”) in Tewksbury, Massachusetts (collectively, the “Project”). Both the 4.3 acres located at 73-75 Hillman Street and the land owned by National Grid and the MBTA that will contain the proposed new electric transmission interconnection are collectively referred to herein as “the Project Site”. The Project will be interconnected to National Grid’s existing Tewksbury 22 Substation (“Interconnection Substation”), located off Power Company Road in Tewksbury.
Hillman Energy Center, LLC proposes to construct a BESS project on two parcels of land, i.e., Parcel 35-6-MAIN and Parcel 35-7, at 73 and 75 Hillman Street in Tewksbury (the “BESS site”) The site occupied by the two parcels, is bounded by Hillman Street to the south, high voltage powerlines to the west, railroad tracks to the north, and Clinton Street to the east. Generally, land uses surrounding the BESS site include existing electric transmission corridors and related infrastructure, extensive wetland areas to the north and west, and commercial/industrial development to the east and south. The Project proposes installation of 169 BESS modules – consisting of lithium-ion batteries housed in above-ground storage cabinets and transformers on concrete slabs – on approximately 4.3 acres of land.
The Proposed Transmission Interconnection line would extend approximately 1,200 feet and traverse four separate tax parcels: Parcel ID 35-4, Parcel ID 35-5, and Parcel ID 49-34, all owned by National Grid; and Parcel ID 11-1, owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (“MBTA”). Per the Town of Tewksbury’s zoning map, Parcel ID 11-1, Parcel ID 35-4, and Parcel ID 35-5 are zoned Industrial, and Parcel ID 49-34 is zoned Park District. Additionally, Parcel ID 11-1 is situated in an existing railroad corridor, and Parcel ID 35-5 and Parcel ID 49- 34 contain the existing National Grid Substation 22A and wetland areas. In total, approximately 3.8 acres is developed with an existing landscaping business and a truck repair shop.
The remaining 0.25 acres of this parcel consists of an isolated vegetated wetland. The 75 Hillman Street Parcel is approximately 0.29 acres in size, contains equipment storage and other industrial uses, and is entirely developed. The Project Site is located within a Zone II Wellhead Protection Area, as mapped by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The Company contends that no part of the Project Site is mapped or identified as Outstanding Resource Waters, and that the Project Site does not contain any mapped floodplains, estimated habitat for state-listed rare species, certified vernal pools, areas identified as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, surface water supply protection areas, or protected open space.
Figure 1, below, provides an aerial view of the Project Site and vicinity:
Project Filing with EFSB
All documents related filed in relation to a proceeding are posted to the DPU Fileroom. The Fileroom page for a proceeding represents the official record for that proceeding. The public can access the Fileroom page for this proceeding at the following link:
Non-Discrimnation Notice
The Siting Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, income, ethnicity, class, disability, religious creed or belief, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, English language proficiency, or ancestry in administration of its programs or activities.
See the Siting Board’s Non-Discrimination Notice by clicking the available link.
If you have any questions about this notice or any of the Siting Board’s non-discrimination programs, policies, or procedures, or believe the Siting Board has discriminated against you, you may contact Melixza Esenyie (see above for contact information) for more information.
Useful Information
EFSB Siting and Permitting Reform Updates
For more detailed information on the Siting process: Energy Facilities Siting Board Handbook (updated 2019) | Guía para fijar la ubicación de instalaciones energéticas (2019)
Contact
Phone
Address
| Last updated: | February 26, 2026 |
|---|