Bonnie Heiple

Bonnie Heiple was appointed Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) by Governor Maura Healey and MA Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper in March 2023.

Commissioner Heiple leads a team of approximately 800 professionals charged with protecting and enhancing Massachusetts’ natural resources—air, water, and land—to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations.

Previously, Commissioner Heiple practiced environmental and energy law at WilmerHale. Her environmental work included litigation, regulatory compliance, and advising clients in rapidly evolving areas, including ESG. Her energy practice focused on permitting renewable energy generation, transmission, and storage projects across the nation.

Commissioner Heiple serves on the Board of the Environmental Council of the States, where she also chairs the national Enforcement and Compliance Committee. She is a leader in the American Bar Association’s Section on Energy, Environment, and Resources, and serves on the Boards of the American Lung Association and Women’s Bar Foundation.

A graduate of Boston University School of Law and magna cum laude from Bucknell University, Commissioner Heiple lives in Boston with her husband and young daughter, where they make good use of the Commonwealth’s beautiful natural resources (particularly the Atlantic!).