The Tewksbury Select Board unanimously approved a Host Community Agreement (HCA) with Hillman Energy Center, LLC on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, clearing a significant hurdle for the proposed 125-megawatt battery storage facility at 73-75 Hillman Street. The approval follows a contentious joint meeting between the Select Board and the Board of Health the previous week, where residents voiced strong opposition to the project, primarily citing safety concerns related to potential battery fires.
The HCA commits Hillman Energy Center to a minimum annual payment in lieu of taxes of $2 million to the town, plus a 1% surcharge for the Community Preservation Act, over a 20-year period. Town Manager John Curran emphasized that the agreement is a tool to shape the project and incorporate safety conditions, acknowledging the limited decision-making power of the town itself, as the ultimate approval rests with the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB).
Residents surrounding the proposed site have organized opposition, expressing fears about the potential for fires and their impact on the surrounding neighborhoods, including Emerald Court. Concerns were heightened following a site visit on January 30, 2026, where protesters displayed signs opposing the battery storage facility. The EFSB has a February 6 deadline for receiving questions and comments from concerned residents regarding the project.
The joint meeting between the Select Board and Board of Health revealed disagreements regarding the town’s approach to the project. Curran argued that an adversarial stance could jeopardize the town’s ability to negotiate favorable safety conditions through the HCA process. The facility, as proposed by East Point Energy, is designed to store 125 megawatts of energy in separate containers, with the capacity to power approximately 125,000 homes for four hours.
The Select Board’s approval of the HCA allows the agreement to be submitted to the EFSB as part of Hillman Energy Center’s application for state approval. The town intends to petition to be an intervener in the EFSB’s review process, allowing it to participate in hearings and submit evidence. Hillman Energy Center is also required to provide regular public reports to the Select Board detailing its progress in obtaining necessary permits and the status of construction, both before and during the building phase, as stipulated in the HCA.
The next scheduled step is for the EFSB to review the HCA and the project application, with a decision expected at a later date. The town is currently preparing its submission of discovery to the EFSB, due February 6, 2026.
