Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H4689: An Act establishing buffer zones for battery storage facilities
Status: Failed, April 6, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, April 24, 2025:
SECTION 1. Chapter 21A of the General Laws, as appearing in the most recent edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new section: Battery Energy Storage Facility Buffer Zones. (a) Definitions. As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings: "Battery storage facility"-a facility that uses batteries to store and distribute electrical energy. "Buffer zone"- a designated distance from certain areas within which battery energy storage facilities shall not be constructed or operated. "Ecologically protected area"- any land designated under state or federal law as a protected environmental zone, including wetlands, wildlife reserves, and conservation areas. "Populated area"- any residentially zoned area, school, hospital, or other location with high human occupancy. (b) Buffer Zone Requirements- (1) No battery storage facility shall be constructed or operated within 2000 feet of a populated area. (2) No battery storage facility shall be constructed or operated within 3,000 feet of an ecologically protected area. (3) The Department of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Department of Fire Services, may adjust buffer distances based on facility size, battery chemistry, and risk assessment. (c) Fire Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness- (1) All potential battery storage facilities shall submit a fire mitigation and emergency response plan to the Department of Fire Services and the local fire department before starting building. (2) Facilities utilizing …
Sponsors
- Kelly Pease (R, 4th Hampden) · primary sponsor
- Lindsay Sabadosa (D, 1st Hampshire)
- Homar Gómez (D)
- Peter Durant (R, Worcester and Hampshire)
- John Marsi (R, 6th Worcester)
- David DeCoste (R, 5th Plymouth)
- Joseph McKenna (R, 18th Worcester)
- John Velis (D, Hampden and Hampshire)
- Kenneth Sweezey (R)
- David Robertson (D, 19th Middlesex)
- Steven Xiarhos (R, 5th Barnstable)
- Kimberly Ferguson (R, 1st Worcester)
Latest actions
- : Accompanied a study order, see H5323
- : Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- : Hearing rescheduled to 11/13/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2 and Virtual<br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing location changed</span>
- : Hearing scheduled for 11/13/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
- : Senate concurred
- : Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
- : Referred to the committee on House Rules
Common questions
- What is H4689?
- H4689 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act establishing buffer zones for battery storage facilities.
- What is the status of H4689?
- Failed as of April 6, 2026. Latest action: Accompanied a study order, see H5323 (April 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored H4689?
- Kelly Pease (R, 4th Hampden), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H4689?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4689
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.