Construction Phases
Vegetation Management
- All project towns and cities
- Ongoing - 2030
Phase 1A
- Vernon, VT to Hinsdale and Winchester, NH
- Construction complete
Phase 1B
- Warwick to the Royalston 701 substation (on South Royalston Rd. Royalston, MA)
- June 2026 - January 2028
Phase 5
- Gardner, MA (the Crystal Lake Taps)
- June 2026 - December 2027
Phase 3
- Westminster, Fitchburg, Leominster, and Sterling, MA (East Westminster Substation to Pratts Junction Substation)
- August 2026 - December 2028
Phase 2A
- Royalston, Winchendon, and Gardner, MA
- April 2028 - December 2029
Phase 2B
- Gardner and Westminster, MA
- August 2027 - February 2029
Phase 4
- Chestnut Hill Taps (Athol, MA)
- May 2029 - December 2030
Project Permitting and Approvals
All necessary permits have been received. These permitting reviews include federal, state and local permits by town.
Federal Permitting
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - Authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act
- Consultations under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Stormwater Discharges and Construction Dewatering Activities/Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
- Potential filing notices with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Massachusetts Permitting
- Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB)
- Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) – MEPA Review/Certificate of the Secretary
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)-Section 401 Individual Water Quality Certificate, Variance, Waterways Program – Ch. 91 Minor Modification
- Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) -Massachusetts Endangered Species Act – Project Review Checklist
- Potential Conservation and Management Permit Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) - Project review under Massachusetts General Law [M.G.L.] c. 9 § 27C
- Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) - Construction Access Permit Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) – Highway Crossing and Traffic Management Permit
- Order of Conditions from each Conservation Commission within the town’s of Athol, Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, Sterling, Warwick, Westminster, Winchendon, and Royalston.
New Hampshire Permitting
- Shoreland Permit by notification to the DES permits NHDOT State Highway Access Permit
- New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) - Alteration of Terrain and Wetlands Major/Minor Permit
- Local New Hampshire Permits:
Vermont Permitting
- Vermont Public Utility Commission (PUC) Section 248 Petition
- Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department – Threatened and Endangered Species Taking Permit
- Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation - Stormwater General Permit, Wetlands General Permit and 401 WQC
