In this email: 

-- Tuesday's public info session has been rescheduled

-- Where to find DOER Guidelines

-- Deadline to submit comments

-- EEA releases 2025 Climate Report Card

Due to Monday's storm and the anticipated lingering effects, the Department has postponed Tuesday's public info session on the proposed guidelines. The sessions will now be held on Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 6-8 p.m. and on Friday, Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to Noon. 

Anyone interested in participating may do so by signing up below:

Wednesday, Feb. 25

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Click to register

Friday, Feb. 27

10 a.m. - Noon

Click to register

Both sessions will be held virtually over Zoom. The sessions will feature a brief presentation by division staff, followed by Q&A with participants. 

As part of the ongoing inaugural rulemaking required by the 2024 Climate Act, DOER's Division of Clean Energy Siting & Permitting has released four sets of guidelines to assist in the local permitting of small clean energy infrastructure projects. 

These guidelines support 225 CMR 29.00, the new regulation being finalized by the Department that outlines the new consolidated permitting process certain applicants may take advantage of starting later this year. 

The new draft guidelines outline rules for:

-- Pre-Filing Stakeholder Engagement

-- Public Health, Safety, Environmental Standards

-- Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation

-- Common Conditions (in cases where there is constructive approval)

DOER is now accepting public comments on the draft guidelines. Comments may be emailed to:

DOER.Siting.Permitting@mass.gov

or mailed to:

Division of Clean Energy Siting & Permitting,

c/o Rick Collins, Director,

100 Cambridge Street, 9th Floor

Boston, MA 02114

The deadline to submit comments on the guidelines is March 13, 2026.

View the public comments received on the draft regulation.

The Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs released its 2025 Massachusetts Climate Report Card, which informs Massachusetts residents of progress being made toward achieving climate goals and mandates.

The report, which can be found here, features both high-level goals as well as specific targets and initiatives. 

The Clean Energy Siting & Permitting Division features four Regional Coordinators charged with assisting municipalities, applicants, and other stakeholders.  

Allison Gage

West

allison.gage@mass.gov

Stephen Meno

Central

stephen.meno@mass.gov

Marcela Castillo

North

marcela.castillo2@mass.gov

Connor Rockett

South

connor.rockett@mass.gov

NOTE: Allison Gage will be leaving the role as of Feb. 25. Communities in Western Mass. should contact Rick Collins (rick.collins@mass.gov) until a new coordinator for the region is in place.