Massachusetts EO 658: local approval and developer-paid clean power for new data centers

Massachusetts made its data center guardrails binding on September 8, 2026. Governor Maura Healey signed Executive Order No. 658, which sets requirements for responsible data center development in the state. The order requires that data centers receive local approval before seeking state permits. It also states that covered projects must pay for their own clean energy or pay fees that support Massachusetts ratepayers.

• Massachusetts EO 658 adds local-approval and clean-power tests for new data centers – The order requires local sign-off before state permitting and puts clean-energy and infrastructure costs on the developer, following a June 25 pause on the state’s data center tax incentive.
• MN8, Google, and Eos disclose Mammoth Solar terms in Kanawha County, West Virginia – The project combines 86 MW of solar, 70 MW/280 MWh lithium-ion storage, and 10 MW/100 MWh Eos zinc storage; Google buys energy, capacity, and clean energy attributes.
• Google’s West Virginia storage post confirms round-the-clock clean-power intent – Google’s same-day post ties the project to a planned Google facility in West Virginia; the state separately announced a Putnam County campus in March 2026.
• Loudoun County ended by-right data center approvals in March 2025 – Phase 1 made data centers a conditional use requiring Special Exception approval in the IP, GI, and MR-HI districts, with grandfathering cutoff of February 12, 2025.
• Loudoun says it lacks legal authority for a data center moratorium – The county’s land-use guidance states a local moratorium would likely conflict with Virginia law, which is why it pursued zoning changes; Phase 2 is studying onsite generation, storage, noise, and substation policy.