Rehoboth Planning Board Hears State Briefing on New Clean Energy Permitting Rules

REHOBOTH -- June 3, 2026, Rehoboth Planning Board grills state official on battery storage safety under new clean energy permitting law. Connor Rockett of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources presented the board with the consolidated local permitting process created under the 2024 climate act, which becomes available to applicants statewide October 1, 2026 and imposes a 12-month deadline on all local decisions for small clean energy facilities, defined as solar under 25 megawatts and battery storage under 100 megawatt hours. Board members pressed Rockett repeatedly on whether the town has the technical capacity to evaluate lithium-ion battery safety, with one member stating flatly, "I have no knowledge of fire and battery storage and I don't, I'm not a guy to pretend I am." Rockett acknowledged the gap, pointed to the state's Section 53G consultant process at applicant expense as a partial remedy, and said DOER's model battery storage zoning bylaws, including setback language for residential, commercial, and agricultural districts, are expected to be released within weeks. The board also unanimously endorsed a Form A plan creating one additional buildable lot from a 14-acre parcel at zero Mason Street, owned by Mass Home of Builders Incorporated.