Siting for a Cleaner, More Equitable Grid in Massachusetts

The document outlines the GIS-based methodology used to assess the proximity of electricity generating units and substations to environmental justice (EJ) populations in Massachusetts. It details the data sources used, including S&P Global and utility plans, and explains the criteria for identifying EJ neighborhoods based on state law. The analysis specifically focused on utility-scale projects and proposed infrastructure to ensure that future siting decisions do not replicate past failures of overburdening vulnerable populations.

• Past siting decisions for electricity infrastructure, particularly polluting power plants, have resulted in an overconcentration of these facilities within or near environmental justice neighborhoods.
• The analysis utilized GIS mapping to evaluate three proximity indicators for energy infrastructure relative to EJ populations: whether a facility is located within an EJ census block group, or within distance bands of one and five miles from one.
• The study focused on proposed electricity generating units (EGUs) equal to or larger than 35 MW, a threshold aligned with Massachusetts state siting reform proposals (H.3187 and S.2113) intended to increase the review of peaker plants and smaller power projects.
• The researchers were only able to map 11 proposed new substations because utilities often provide broad city-level locations rather than specific coordinates in their planning documents.

APA

García, P., Declet-Barreto, J., Owen, S., Peale, C., Sital, S., Sathia, & Walkey, J. (2024). Siting for a Cleaner, More Equitable Grid in Massachusetts. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/MA-infrastructure-appendix-3-21.pdf

Chicago

García, Paula, Juan Declet-Barreto, Sofia Owen, Caitlin Peale, Sloan Sital, Sathia, and John Walkey. Siting for a Cleaner, More Equitable Grid in Massachusetts. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2024. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/MA-infrastructure-appendix-3-21.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=García |first1=Paula |last2=Declet-Barreto |first2=Juan |last3=Owen |first3=Sofia |last4=Peale |first4=Caitlin |last5=Sital |first5=Sloan |last6=Sathia |last7=Walkey |first7=John |title=Siting for a Cleaner, More Equitable Grid in Massachusetts |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=March 2024 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/MA-infrastructure-appendix-3-21.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{garca2024siting, author = {García, Paula and Declet-Barreto, Juan and Owen, Sofia and Peale, Caitlin and Sital, Sloan and Sathia and Walkey, John}, title = {{Siting for a Cleaner, More Equitable Grid in Massachusetts}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/MA-infrastructure-appendix-3-21.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }