From the Statehouse

By Christine Rasmussen

The Massachusetts Division of Clean Energy Siting and Permitting released its regulations for the permitting of “small clean energy infrastructure projects”, which is the local process for permitting clean energy projects less than 25 MW, storage projects less than 100 MWh, and transmission or distribution infrastructure in an existing right of way less than ten miles, or a new right of way less than one mile. Learn more about the regulations here. Public comment on the regulations is due by October 17, 2025.

The regulations could fundamentally change how these facilities are located and permitted. Berkshire Regional Planning will be providing comments on the proposed regulations. Some projects that depend on subsidies may be cancelled. However, there are companies that could have resources to build. In addition, there are state goals to reduce emissions with greenhouse gas emissions limits to 50 percent below 1990 levels. Those are still in effect.

Once regulations are in the books, it is difficult to get them changed and the law requires the new siting and permitting policies be effective by Mar 1, 2026, determining what projects get built. The concern is that the proposed regulations are not strong enough to incentivize projects be built to minimize their destruction of the natural lands, open space, viewsheds and forests. These lands naturally remove 11 percent of the state’s climate-polluting emissions each year, according to MA Audubon. Besides they provide community with its character, ecosystem benefits, and clean water.

Finally, modifying the timeline for review places a burden on small towns.

Federal Actions Impacting Our State:

The FY 2026 state budget, signed by Governor Maura Healey on July 4th, was based on conditions that could not have been anticipated by early October, which include a projected decline of roughly $650 million in tax revenues.

The new dashboard available at mass.gov/fedimpact reveals that President Trump and Congressional Republicans have cut $3.7 billion from the Massachusetts state budget this year alone. This includes $3.3 billion in funding cuts enacted by Congress and $399 million in cuts made through executive action by the President. These reductions affect various vital services, including funding for homeland security, disaster prevention aid, school mental health services, tutoring, school security and building upgrades, healthy food for children and students, respiratory illness prevention and treatment, community health centers, public health workers, substance use disorder treatment, increased broadband access, and many others.

Additionally, the dashboard predicts that the “One Big Beautiful Bill” could lead to as many as 300,000 residents losing health care coverage through MassHealth and the Health Connector. Furthermore, another 108,500 people are expected to lose access to SNAP food assistance programs. If Congress chooses not to extend pandemic-era tax credits that help Americans afford health insurance, the Massachusetts Health Connector marketplace would need an extra $255 million from Beacon Hill to maintain its most subsidized option at current rates.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) New survey data from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities shows that homeowners across Massachusetts are embracing accessory dwelling units following Governor Maura Healey’s Affordable Homes Act, which allows ADUs to be built by-right on single-family properties statewide.

ADUs, also known as in-law apartments, are one strategy for building new homes and lowering costs. In the first six months of 2025, homeowners in 170 communities filed 844 applications to build ADUs on their properties, of which at least 550 had been approved as of July 2025.

Photo: Dana Goedewaagen/Blue Moon Images