Massachusetts Wind and Solar Project Permitting Timelines and Outcomes

An original dataset documents the permitting processes for locally-permitted wind and solar energy projects in Massachusetts. Created by Natalie Baillargeon, it contains data on permitting durations, project outcomes, and capacity. The dataset was last updated on April 8, 2026, and is shared under a CC-BY-4.0 license.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the relationship between project capacity and permitting duration based on described findings.
• Modeling trends in permitting duration over time for renewable energy projects.
• Comparing permitting outcomes (e.g., permitted vs. canceled) and their associated timelines.
• Informing policy debates on balancing fast deployment with community concerns, as mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Original dataset created to document a process not well known for locally-permitted projects.
• Includes a specific finding: average permitting duration lasted 250 days.
• Explicitly links project attributes like capacity and outcome to permitting duration.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The dataset is small (337.2 KB), indicating a limited scope.

Provenance

Source

Natalie Baillargeon via figshare.

Collection Method

Likely compiled from public records or direct collection to document local permitting processes.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-08 22:01:13; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Massachusetts, United States.