MassCEC Renewable Energy Partnerships

Low-Income Communities
Since 2005, MassCEC has committed a total of $34.6 million to support green buildings, energy efficiency measures, and renewable energy installations that benefit low and moderate income ratepayers, and the community organizations that support them. 

• Low Income Energy Assistance Network (LEAN) Partnership. The LEAN initiative has provided support to over 676 residential repair and onsite alternative energy projects, including 23 photovoltaic systems, eight domestic solar hot water systems, a residential geothermal system, and 45 micro combined heat and power system installations.  The partnership has leveraged an additional $1.63 million in funding from utilities, foundations, and the U.S. Departments of Energy and Health and Human Services.

• Clean Energy Choice (CEC.) The CEC program provided 12 grants totaling more than $1.8 million to community service facilities serving low-income populations, such as the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club, the Brockton Senior Center, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

• The Green Affordable Housing Initiative (GAHI.) By the end 2010, the GAHI initiative will provide funding for more than 100 solar photovoltaic installations, serving family affordable housing units.

RPS Solar Carve-Out

The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has carved-out a portion of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Class I Renewable Energy requirement to support solar system development small onsite renewables, as provided by the Green Communities Act of 2008. DOER's implementation of the Solar Carve-Out program for solar energy facilities includes a Solar Credit Clearinghouse Auction.

In addition to receiving rebates through MassCEC’s Commonwealth Solar rebate program, projects are eligible to earn Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs.) Each SREC represents proof that 1 megawatt-hour of solar electricity has been generated, and is a tradable commodity.  SRECs can then be sold to Massachusetts electricity suppliers (which according to Massachusetts law are required to have a minimum percentage of their electricity mix come from solar power generated within the Commonwealth). Learn more about SREC background by visiting www.mass.gov/doer and clicking on “Renewable Energy.” MassCEC administers the production tracking, reporting, and verification services for the SREC program on behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.
 

Offshore Wind
MassCEC works with partners in industry, government, and academia to shape the Commonwealth’s international role in offshore wind R&D and private sector experience in project development. MassCEC is a founding member of the US Offshore Wind Collaborative (USOWC), which is at the forefront of policy development and addressing the challenges facing offshore wind. Massachusetts coastal waters offer some of the most promising offshore wind opportunities in the country in terms of water depths, wind speeds, proximity to energy loads, and value of the energy. Massachusetts was also selected to establish the one-of-a-kind Wind Technology Testing Center, making it well positioned to successfully collaborate and compete in the growing US offshore energy arena.

Note: The programs above are MassCEC partnerships with other organizations. There are not currently open solicitations for funding opportunities under these programs. Click here to view MassCEC's open funding opportunities.