Massachusetts H3479: An Act relative to the onshore siting of infrastructure associated with offshore wind projects

What the bill says

From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:

SECTION 1. 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, and standing firmly in support of the goal to increase the generation of electrical power from renewable sources, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts directs the developers of offshore wind power projects to site the related onshore infrastructure on coastal locations that are industrial in nature and/or that contain existing power plants, whether they be active or decommissioned. 2. It is the direction of the Commonwealth that no such offshore wind projects should come ashore on or underneath public beaches, parks, recreation areas or conservation lands, or in small residential communities whose economies are based on tourism. 3. Such infrastructure shall include but not be limited to high voltage power cables, splicing vaults installed beneath public parking lots and public and private roadways, concrete duct banks conveying high voltage power cables beneath public and private roadways, and electric substations newly constructed or rebuilt to take the electricity generated by offshore wind turbines. 4. Such infrastructure, especially including but not limited to electric substations, should never be situated on top of a sole source aquifer and on or adjacent to wellhead protection zones, where any explosion or leak of toxic dielectric cooling fluids could prove catastrophic and a long-lasting threat to public health and safety. 5. Prior to accepting any new …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Kip Diggs (D, 2nd Barnstable) · primary sponsor

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 H3479?

H3479 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act relative to the onshore siting of infrastructure associated with offshore wind projects.

What is the status of H3479?

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

Who sponsored H3479?

Kip Diggs (D, 2nd Barnstable).

Where is the official record for H3479?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3479