Massachusetts H3585: An Act establishing a special commission to study the potential risks to cities and towns from the onshore electrical infrastructure supporting offshore wind energy generation projects

What the bill says

From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:

(a) There is hereby established a special commission to study the potential financial, environmental, public health, and public safety risks to cities and towns and their residents from onshore electric infrastructure associated with offshore wind energy generation projects as they land in and traverse communities of the Commonwealth. Said special commission shall include within the scope of its study, without limitation: (1) potential risks from the development, operation, and catastrophic failure of underground and above-ground electric transmission lines, electric substations, and associated onshore electric infrastructure; (2) potential risks of electromagnetic emissions, smoke and fire as the result of catastrophic events, and the release of oil, hazardous materials, and any other pollutants into the soil, water, and air; (3) potential hazards to public and private water supplies, and the sole source aquifer, from onshore infrastructure supporting offshore wind power; (4) the need for legislation requiring the Commonwealth to indemnify cities and towns for their costs of responding to, and cleaning up after, a catastrophic event relating to onshore infrastructure for offshore wind power, including but not limited to fire and the release of oil and hazardous materials; (5) the implementation of risk assessments and routine audits of electric substations supporting offshore wind-generated power to ensure compliance with safety standards, including potential cybersecurity risks; (6) the readiness of the Commonwealth to provide …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Steven Xiarhos (R, 5th Barnstable) · primary sponsor
• Steven Ouellette (D)

Latest actions

1. April 6, 2026: Accompanied a study order, see H5323
2. December 4, 2025: Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
3. October 27, 2025: Reporting date extended to Wednesday, December 3, 2025
4. July 18, 2025: Hearing scheduled for 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
5. February 27, 2025: Senate concurred
6. February 27, 2025: Referred to the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Common questions

What is H3585?

H3585 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act establishing a special commission to study the potential risks to cities and towns from the onshore electrical infrastructure supporting offshore wind energy generation projects.

What is the status of H3585?

Failed as of April 6, 2026. Latest action: Accompanied a study order, see H5323 (April 6, 2026).

Who sponsored H3585?

Steven Xiarhos (R, 5th Barnstable), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for H3585?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3585