ER ENERGY RESOURCES
Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Council.
Agency history record.
The Energy Facilities Siting Council (its official name)
operates under the authority of MGLA c 164, which regulates
the manufacture and sale of gas and electricity in the
Commonwealth. Its establishment as the Electric Power
Facilities Siting Council by St 1973, c 1232 was intended to
remedy the haphazard electrical power facilities siting
process and to give the public a forum for involvement. The
council was to implement energy policies outlined in MGLA c
164, providing a necessary power supply with a minimum of
impact on the environment at the lowest possible cost.
The council's membership was initially comprised of the
secretary of consumer affairs, under whose office the council
was grouped, the secretary of communities and development, the
secretary of environmental affairs, and the secretary of human
services or their designees, and three appointees of the
governor, one experienced in conservation and environmental
protection, one experienced in the electric power industry,
and one a professional engineer.
As stated in its original mandate the council is required
to review long-range forecasts of supply and demand from all
electric utilities. These forecasts are ten-year plans to be
filed by each utility every five years. They include
intentions to expand or remove an existing facility or to
build a new one. An annual supplement showing major changes
in these long-range plans is also required. As part of its
responsibility to review and approve or disapprove plans, the
council holds public hearings on each plan and on each
proposed new facility. It also hears petitions to issue
certificates of environmental impact and public need to
utilities for proposed electric facilities whose construction
or operation is otherwise obstructed by state or local
agencies. Additional responsibilities include approving
applications for national pollution and discharge elimination
system permits and authorizing utilities to take land for
proposed sites by eminent domain if necessary.
St 1974, c 852 broadened the function of the council to
include promoting a reliable, adequate, economical, and safe
supply of natural gas through oversight of facilities for the
transmission of natural gas and the manufacture or storage of
liquified or synthetic natural gas or propane. The body was
renamed the Energy Facilities Siting Council and its
membership enlarged to include a representative of the natural
gas industry.
In 1975, in response to perceived petroleum shortages, an
emergency law (St 1975, c 617) was enacted to regulate through
the council the siting of oil facilities within the
Commonwealth. The council's membership was again changed to
include the secretaries of administration and finance and of
manpower affairs, replacing the secretaries of communities and
development and of human services, while the number of
gubernatorial appointees was also increased to include a
representative of the petroleum industry. St 1977, c 167
similarly provided for a representative of organized labor.
An emergency law in 1979 established the Executive Office
of Energy Resources to coordinate and promote energy
conservation (St 1979, c 796). Under this legislation the new
secretary of energy resources replaced the secretary of
administration and finance as a member of the council and
became its chair, effectively placing the council under the
new office. In the same year, permitting and licensing of
hydroelectric power generation were included under the
authority of the council (St 1979, c 804). Responsibilities
for solar, geothermal, and wind energy were added by St 1986,
c 466.
The council is supported by filing fees collected annually
from utilities. By St 1980, c 572, responsibility for setting
these filing fees was removed from the council and assigned to
the secretary of administration and finance.) It works closely
with other state agencies to insure efficient regulation of
utilities. The council provides information on its decisions
to the Department of Public Utilities, which sets rates; and
technical support in such matters as conservation financing
and coal gasification to the Executive Office of Energy
Resources, with whom it collaborates to develop hydroelectric
facilities. The council also works with the Massachusetts
Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Unit and other environmental
agencies to insure consistency of environmental review in such
areas as herbicide use, wetlands protection, and construction
permits.
I. Massachusetts. Electric Power Facilities Siting Council.
035: ER2
ID: MASVAH0050-A
Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Council.
Facility site dockets, 1976-
44 cu. ft.
Arranged by case number.
Summary: The Energy Facilities Siting Council oversees the
provision of a necessary energy supply for the Commonwealth
with a minimum impact on the environment at the lowest
possible cost (MGLA c 164, s 69H). This series was created to
record the council's approval of the location of
power-generating plants after review of their environmental
impact upon sites. Dockets may contain any or all of the
following: notice of intention to build, U.S. Geological
Survey maps, other maps, narrative description of site and
facility, facility plans, photographs (both aerial and
ground), environmental impact notification forms, narrative
rationale for site, list of licenses both pending and
received, copies of studies and decisions from other state
agencies relative to the site, and the council's final
decision. Information includes name of owner, location of
facility, topographical characteristics of site, facility
design, environmental impact of site (with special attention
to impact on ground and surface water supplies), projections
of market for energy output, and rationale for the council's
final decision.
Trade secrets restricted by statutory provision unless
litigation occurs; MGLA c 4, s 7, cl 26 (g) (980 CMR 4.04-05).
Also known as: Adjudicatory case files.
Agency history record (CStRLIN)MASVAH0050-A describes the
history and functions of the Energy Facilities Siting Council.
Location: Energy Facilities Siting Council. 100 Cambridge
St., Boston, MA 02202.
1. Power-plants--Environmental aspects--Massachusetts. 2.
Power-plants-- Licenses--Massachusetts. 3.
Massachusetts--Politics and government--1951- 4. State
government records. 5. Case files. 6. Dockets. 7. Appraised.
8. Scheduled. I. Title: Adjudicatory case files.
035: (M-Ar)810
035: ER2
ID: MASV89-A188
Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Council.
Hydroelectric generating facility licensing case files,
1981-
8 cu. ft.
Arranged by case number.
Summary: The Energy Facilities Siting Council oversees the
provision of a necessary energy supply for the Commonwealth
with a minimum impact on the environment at the lowest
possible cost (MGLA c 164, s 69H). The responsibility to
license hydroelectric generating facilities was added by St
1979, c 804 (MGLA c 164, s 69H 1/2). These case files are
compiled during the licensing procedure. Files may contain
correspondence, maps, plans, field notes, depositions,
transcripts of hearings, relevant court decisions, and the
council's letter of approval or disapproval. Information
includes the name of owner, location of facility,
topographical characteristics of site, type of equipment used
or proposed, amount of power generated, and contaminants
discharged into water supplies through plant operations.
Trade secrets restricted by statutory provision unless
litigation occurs; MGLA c 4, s 7, cl 26 (g) (980 CMR 4.04-05).
Agency history record (CStRLIN)MASVAH0050-A describes the
history and functions of the Energy Facilities Siting Council.
Location: Energy Facilities Siting Council. 100 Cambridge
St., Boston, MA 02202.
1. Hydroelectric power plants--Environmental
aspects--Massachusetts. 2. Hydroelectric power
plants--Licenses--Massachusetts. 3. Massachusetts--Politics
and government--1951- 4. State government records. 5. Case
files. 6. Appraised. 7. Scheduled.
035: (M-Ar)811
035: ER2
ID: MASV89-A190
Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Council.
Minutes of meetings, 1980-
3 cu. ft.
Arranged chronologically.
Summary: The Energy Facilities Siting Council oversees the
provision of a necessary energy supply for the Commonwealth
with a minimum impact on the environment at the lowest
possible cost (MGLA, c 164, s 69H). This series was created
to record decisions and to summarize discussion leading to
formal approval or disapproval of site locations or forecast
plans. Information includes attendance, date of meeting,
record of votes, company and advocacy group input regarding
facility planning and location, and the final decision of the
council. Other business that may come before the council is
also recorded here. The files also contain agendas and
supporting papers.
Agency history record (CStRLIN)MASVAH0050-A describes the
history and functions of the Energy Facilities Siting Council.
Location: Energy Facilities Siting Council. 100 Cambridge
St., Boston, MA 02202.
1. Power-plants--Environmental aspects--Massachusetts. 2.
Power-plants-- Licenses--Massachusetts. 3.
Massachusetts--Politics and government--1951- 4. State
government records. 5. Minutes. 6. Appraised. 7. Scheduled.
035: (M-Ar)812
035: ER2
ID: MASV89-A196