The bill proposes amendments to the General Laws in Chapter 42-98, the "Energy Facility Siting Act," to update policies and definitions related to the siting of major energy facilities. It emphasizes the importance of affordable, reliable energy and the impact of energy facilities on public health, safety, and the environment. The bill seeks to streamline decision-making by defining the jurisdiction of state agencies to avoid overlap and duplication, setting a legally determined timeframe for decisions. It updates the definition of "alteration" to include biofuel conversion and removes coal processed by "clean coal technology" from the list of prioritized primary fuels. The bill introduces "advisory agencies" to provide opinions to the siting board, consolidates licensure and regulatory authority, and mandates that the siting board prioritize projects based on renewable fuels, efficiency, and low environmental impact.

The bill also redefines "host community" and distinguishes between "Major generating facility" and "Major non-generating facility." It increases the siting board's membership from three to five, including specific designees and a public member, and outlines their roles and compensation. The board is given the authority to engage consultants, appoint hearing officers, and draw staff from existing state agencies. The bill details the application process for energy facilities, requiring a description of economic impacts and a preliminary review for completeness. It changes the scope of agency investigations, updates the role of the public utilities commission, and sets new requirements for public notice and hearings. The bill also adds a section on the final hearing process, considers cumulative impacts, outlines violations and penalties, and allows host communities to enforce ordinances unless they conflict with board decisions. It includes new provisions for appointing a public member and hearing officers, with measures to prevent conflicts of interest. The act would take effect upon passage.