In Massachusetts and across the country, it’s harder than ever to build new infrastructure — whether it’s roads and bridges, houses and offices, or power lines. Understandably, complex projects require careful engineering, planning, financing and authentic engagement with a broad set of interested parties. But far too often, inefficient, duplicative and inconsistent processes make the effort of permitting a project longer, more costly and less satisfying for many, many stakeholders.

At the same time, Massachusetts, like many states and other countries, has set its sights on a clean energy future that creates jobs, uses our own resources rather than imported fossil fuels, addresses climate change, and protects our environment. To achieve this future, we will need to build a lot more clean energy — not only solar-power systems, wind facilities and energy-storing batteries, but also the power-line equipment to move that energy around. 

Fortunately, in the commonwealth, we are poised to see significant improvement in how we site and permit the clean energy infrastructure we so desperately need. Thanks to the notable collaboration by the executive branch and both chambers of the state Legislature, we have a pair of permitting and siting reform bills, S 2838 and H.4884, near final passage.

With the finish line in sight, this is a moment to recognize the efforts of the elected leaders who steered us to this point: By filing separate permitting bills in early 2023, Senate and House energy chairs Michael Barrett and Jeff Roy used their positions to effectively start the conversation, and with her appointment of a special commission back in September, Gov. Maura Healey signaled her commitment to convening a serious effort with broad stakeholder representation. Barrett, Roy, and top administration officials were active and engaged members of the commission. The commission’s final recommendations served as the basis for the two bills that have passed both the Senate and House of Representatives.

So what makes this reform package so special? For one, this legislation balances the interests of many while creating a path to greater efficiency in the permitting process. It lays out specific expectations project proponents must meet to engage authentically with stakeholders before filing for a permit; it cuts the red tape by consolidating and streamlining permitting processes at the state and local level, without giving up local control; it creates clear, firm, and enforceable timelines under which the municipality or the state must act (to approve, conditionally approve, or deny a permit) so that projects don’t end up in a years’ long purgatory; and it streamlines the appeals process to avoid endless delays in the court system while preserving stakeholder rights. 

With this bill, Massachusetts not only can get more clean energy projects built more quickly, but also it can become a guiding light for other states, demonstrating how common sense siting and permitting policies can unlock significant investment, create jobs, and ensure a reliable and clean energy future.

Read the full article here.