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Greater Cambridge Energy Program (GCEP)

Why Are We Doing This Project?

The Greater Cambridge area is experiencing a surge of new residential and commercial development that along with goals of reduction of fossil fuels in new buildings and electrification, is generating a growing demand for power. These factors are driving Eversource to work on solutions to bolster the area’s transmission and distribution facilities, improve system reliability and replace aging equipment. Events such as the upcoming retirement of the Mystic Generating Station are further fueling the need for solutions to meet both the short-term and long-term demand for reliable energy.

Where Is This Work Being Done?

We propose to construct a new underground substation in Kendall Square, Cambridge, along with five underground duct banks housing eight new 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines. The transmission routes will span Boston (Allston/Brighton), Cambridge, and Somerville interconnecting to existing substations in these communities.

The new substation will be located between Broadway and Binney Street and will be integrated into a large mixed-use development project at the former Kendall Center Blue Garage site. A partnership spearheaded by City of Cambridge officials, Eversource, and the local development community yielded this collaborative effort to uniquely locate the substation underground - a first of its kind in the country. Above the underground substation will be an open and accessible community outdoor space.

Preferred/Primary routes:*

*Route alignments are approximate and shown for illustrative purposes only.



Alternate routes:*

*Route alignments are approximate and shown for illustrative purposes only.

When Is The Work Being Done?

  • Public open houses: October 2021
  • File siting petition with the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB): March 10, 2022
  • EFSB public hearing: June 28, 2022, November 10, 2022
  • Tentative decision from the EFSB: Early/Mid 2024
  • Final decision from the EFSB: Mid 2024
  • Pending EFSB approval, pre-construction open houses: Late 2024
  • Start of construction: Late 2024
  • Estimated in-service dates: Late 2028/2029

*Dates subject to change

Additional information can be found on the the Siting Board's website.

About this project

Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB)

To construct and operate the five new 115-kV transmission lines, Eversource must file a petition with the EFSB for approval. The petition filing is part of the regulatory review process, as defined by Massachusetts state statutes.

We submitted a siting petition to the EFSB on March 10, 2022. The EFSB’s docket is available for viewing in the organization’s file room.

Supplemental November 10, 2022 Public Comment Hearing

June 28, 2022 Public Comment Hearing

Public Hearing Notifications

Community Outreach

We're committed to continuing our collaborative working partnership with each local community, municipal leaders and other interested stakeholders.

Our public outreach efforts began in 2019 and we held our first public open house in 2021. We will continue to engage and solicit feedback from a diverse cross-section of neighborhoods that the project will traverse.

City officials, residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders will be kept informed about project happenings and activities through municipal briefings, mailings, virtual meetings, in-person meetings, constant contact and door-to-door outreach. 

Have Questions?

Keeping the lines of communication open is an important part of our work in your community.

For more information about this project, please call the project information hotline at 1-833-836-0302 or email ProjectInfoMA@eversource.com.