Clean Energy Infrastructure Siting and Zoning Technical Assistance
MAPC’s Clean Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Siting and Zoning Technical Assistance program supports Massachusetts municipalities within the Metro Boston region with developing new siting and permitting processes and zoning provisions for CEI.
All of MAPC’s 101 municipalities are eligible to request technical assistance (TA) from our staff for complying with the Department of Energy Resources' (DOER) new regulations for local CEI siting and permitting, as well as for adopting local zoning provisions for solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS). TA requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and TA will be offered as funding allows.
Questions? Please contact: [email protected]
Outside of MAPC's region? Reach out to your regional planning agency, which may be offering a similar program.
Requesting Technical Assistance
Technical Assistance Areas
Thanks to support from DOER, MAPC staff are offering technical assistance for any of the following areas related to CEI siting, permitting, and zoning in your community:
- Compliance with Small CEI Facility Siting and Permitting (225 CMR 29.00): MAPC, in coordination with DOER siting and permitting coordinators, is supporting municipalities with developing their consolidated permitting process before the October 1, 2026 compliance date.
- Reviewing existing and/or developing new zoning bylaws and ordinances for solar PV and BESS: MAPC staff will provide technical assistance to cities and towns seeking to adopt new zoning provisions for solar PV and/or BESS that are aligned with 225 CMR 29.00 requirements and based on the new model bylaws developed by DOER.
- Reviewing permit applications using the consolidated permitting process: After October 1, 2026, municipalities who have received an application for a consolidated permit may request ad hoc technical assistance from MAPC staff to advise on the municipality’s review of the application. Funding is limited, and requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Eligibility Requirements
- All MAPC cities and towns are eligible to request technical assistance from MAPC as funding permits.
- Requests submitted through the form will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Municipalities requesting support for zoning technical assistance must be seeking to adopt zoning provisions through town meeting or city council by end of May 2027. Municipalities seeking to adopt zoning provisions after May 2027 will be considered on a case-by-case basis as funding allows.
- Municipalities requesting ad hoc technical assistance for reviewing an application for a clean energy infrastructure project using the consolidated permitting pathway must have developed a consolidated permitting process compliant with 225 CMR 29.00 before October 1, 2026.
About the Clean Energy and Siting & Permitting Regulations
In 2024, the MA legislature established requirements for municipalities to offer consolidated local permitting for smaller clean energy infrastructure projects, including solar PV, BESS, and some electric distribution infrastructure. Pursuant to the new law, DOER issued regulations for the consolidated local permitting process that all municipalities will need to be able to offer by October 1, 2026. Larger project applications will go to the Energy Facilities Siting Board.
The regulations and guidelines can found here.
FAQs for steps for municipalities to take can be found here.
MAPC and DOER convened five technical workshops in June and July to discuss the new siting and permitting regulations. View a recording of the workshop from July 23, 2026 here:
Questions about the regulations and guidelines?
MAPC can help, but we first recommend you reach out to your DOER Siting & Permitting Regional Coordinator (same regions as Green Communities). Find your coordinator here.