Tewksbury Board of Health Files Brief in Battery Storage Siting Proceeding

TEWKSBURY — March 19, 2026 — Tewksbury Board of Health votes unanimously to file post-hearing brief in contested battery storage facility proceeding. The board voted 5-0 Thursday evening to authorize submission of its intervenor brief to the Energy Facilities Siting Board in the matter of Hillman Energy Center, LLC v. EFSB, EFSB 25-08, with briefs due by March 20. Chair Melissa Braga and Director of Public Health Shannon Gillis, who attended hearings as the board's designated intervenor, drew praise from fellow members for keeping the document focused "strictly on items that fall under just the jurisdiction of the board of health," in the words of Vice Chair Susan Amato. The board also resolved two permit-compliance disputes without formal hearings: EcoOil Recycling paid a $100 late fee and withdrew its dispute, while Crescio Trucking paid both its outstanding fine and permit renewal fee after receiving formal notice, though its owner did not appear before the board as requested. The board agreed to invite health consultant Maria Ruggiero to the April 16 meeting to update members on kratom sales in town before deciding whether to schedule a public hearing on the issue.