Tewksbury Select Board Approves Hillman Energy Host Community Agreement 5-0

Select Board · Meeting of February 4, 2026

Tewksbury Select Board unanimously approved a $3.7 million host community agreement with Hillman Energy Center for a proposed battery storage facility. The board voted 5-0 at its February 4 meeting to accept the agreement and authorize its submission to the state Energy Facilities Siting Board, which holds sole permitting authority over the project. Special counsel Chip Bernstein told the board that rejecting the agreement would not halt the state process but would forfeit all financial protections, property-value compensation, and safety commitments — including a decommissioning bond estimated between $3 million and $6 million.

Town Manager Curran noted the town has spent close to $400,000 in legal costs, which Hillman's Norwegian parent company is expected to reimburse within 30 days of execution following a corporate board meeting in early March. "Without this agreement, we would not be receiving any of these items," said Member Richard Russo, Jr.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of February 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.