Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities Hearing

At the public comment hearing, Eversource will present an overview of the Project.  Public officials and members of the public will then have an opportunity to ask questions and make comments about the proposed Project.  The public comment hearing will be recorded by a court reporter.  A recording of the public comment hearing will be posted to the Department’s YouTube channel after the public comment hearing.

Intervention and Participation

Persons or groups who wish to be involved in the Siting Board proceeding beyond providing comments at the public comment hearing or submitting written comments may seek either to intervene as a party or to participate as a limited participant.  Intervention as a party allows the person or group to participate fully in the evidentiary phase of the proceeding, including the right to participate in evidentiary hearings and to appeal a final decision.  A limited participant would receive documents in the proceeding and may file a brief as well as file written comments and/or present oral comments regarding the Tentative Decision to the Siting Board.

Any person wishing to intervene as a party or to participate as a limited participant in this proceeding must file a written petition with the Presiding Officer (see Filing Instructions below).  A petition to intervene or be a limited participant must satisfy the timing and substantive requirements of 980 CMR 1.00, the Siting Board’s procedural rules, which can be found on the Siting Board’s website.  To be allowed, a petition to intervene filed pursuant to 980 CMR 1.05 must demonstrate that the petitioner may be substantially and specifically affected by this proceeding.

Filing Instructions

Written comments on the Project, or a petition to intervene or participate as a limited participant in this proceeding, must be filed in two places:

First, the petition to intervene or participate, and comments, must be filed with the Siting Board in electronic format, by email or email attachment to dpu.efiling@mass.gov; and to donna.sharkey@mass.gov no later than the close of business on Friday, July 22, 2022. The text of the e-mail must specify: (1) the docket number of the proceeding (EFSB 22-03/D.P.U. 22-21); (2) the name of the person or entity submitting the filing; and (3) a brief description of the document.  The electronic filing should also include the name, title, and telephone number of a person to contact in the event of questions about the filing.  Second, the petition or comments must be sent electronically to counsel for the Company, David S. Rosenzweig, Esq., Keegan Werlin LLP, 99 High Street, Suite 2900, Boston, MA 02110, drosen@keeganwerlin.com.

Siting Board Jurisdiction

Under G.L. c. 164, §§ 69H, 69J, the Siting Board will review the Company’s filing to determine whether the Project would provide a reliable energy supply with a minimum impact on the environment at the lowest possible cost.  Under G.L. c. 164, § 72, the Siting Board will determine whether the proposed Project is necessary, serves the public convenience, and is consistent with the public interest. 

Public Review of the Company’s Petitions

The petition to construct the Project includes the following information: (1) a description of the Project; (2) an analysis of the need for the Project; (3) a description of the alternatives to the Project; and (4) a description of the environmental impacts of the Project.  Copies of the Company’s petitions, including all attachments, are available for public inspection in hard-copy format at the following locations:

• Energy Facilities Siting Board, One South Station, 5^th Floor, Boston, MA 02110
• Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138
• Cambridge Public Library, O’Connell Branch, 48 Sixth Street, Cambridge, MA 02141
• Cambridge City Clerk, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139Siti
• Boston Public Library, Brighton Branch, 40 Academy Hill Road, Brighton, MA 02135
• Boston City Clerk, 1 City Hall Square, Room 601, Boston, MA 02201
• Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143
• Somerville City Clerk, 93 Highland Avenue, 1^st Floor, Somerville, MA 02143

In addition, the Company’s petitions, including all attachments, are electronically available via the Energy Facilities Siting Board’s website.  The Siting Board has created a special information webpage for this proceeding and will update it during the course of the proceeding.

The Company’s information is also available on the company’s website.

To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, or audio format) contact the Siting Board’s ADA coordinator at Melixza.Esenyie2@mass.gov or 617-626-1282.

Accommodation Requests

Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request.  Include a complete description of the accommodation you will need and a way we can contact you if we need more information.  Please provide as much advance notice as possible.  Please allow at least two weeks (14 days) advance notice. Last minute requests will be accepted, but we may be unable to fulfill the request. Please send your requests to: Melixza G. Esenyie, ADA and Diversity Manager at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs at Melixza.Esenyie2@mass.gov or call 617-626-1282 no later than Tuesday, June 14, 2022.

Interpretation services for those with limited English language proficiency are available upon request.  Include in your request the language required, and a way to contact you if we need more information.  Please provide as much advance notice as possible, by Friday, June 17, 2022, if possible.  Last-minute requests will be accepted but may not be able to be accommodated.  Contact the Presiding Officer (contact information below).

Any person desiring further information regarding this Notice, including information about intervention or participation in the proceeding may also contact the Presiding Officer at the address or telephone number below:

Donna Sharkey, Presiding Officer

Energy Facilities Siting Board

One South Station, Boston, MA 02110

Donna.Sharkey@mass.gov, 617-305-3625