From Stage to Solar: Building Clean Energy Housing
In the quiet hills of Ashfield, Massachusetts, Double Edge Theatre isn’t just putting on plays, they’re bringing clean energy and affordable housing to the forefront. With the help of two EmPower Massachusetts grants from MassCEC, this rural cultural cooperative is proving that even small organizations can make a big impact when it comes to clean energy and community resilience.
Double Edge's mission goes beyond the arts: to help their community move off dirty, expensive energy and toward clean, affordable power and housing, creating a healthier, more equitable future. In a region with a strong Indigenous presence – often overlooked in energy efforts – Double Edge is forging a path forward, grounded in shared values, determination, and a collective vision for change.
Their journey began with an Innovation & Capacity Building (ICB) grant from MassCEC’s EmPower program, which provided the resources to dream big and plan smart. With help from partners like the Ohketeau Cultural Center, UMass Amherst’s Arts Extension Service, and clean energy consultants like UMass Clean Energy Extension, Culture Climate Strategy, and Linnean Solutions, they used the grant to:
- Build lasting partnerships with local organizations
- Engage neighbors directly to co-create solutions
- Explore cooperative ownership models for housing and infrastructure, ensuring clean energy benefits stay local
- Dedicate staff time to pursuing major funding opportunities, including the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant program
As a result of these efforts, they successfully secured a $166,001 MVP Action Grant with the Town of Ashfield. The EmPower ICB grant didn’t just cover staff time for writing proposals – it helped build a coalition rooted in equity, culture, and climate justice.
Act II: Lights, Camera, Implementation! – Clean Energy Affordable Housing in Massachusetts
Addressing the area’s housing crisis is a key priority for the organization. Double Edge maintains housing on its main campus and at a downtown site, providing subsidized units for low-income residents, guest educators, and locals. They are working with town officials and local committees to advance long-term solutions through creative, community-driven approaches.
With the planning phase complete and a follow-up EmPower Implementation Grant in hand, Double Edge is now bringing their vision to life.
Their current project focuses on creating energy-efficient, affordable housing on their campus – designed with Black and Indigenous values and community collaboration at its core. The theater’s effort will tackle the area’s housing shortage while slashing toxic air pollution and lowering monthly energy bills. By transforming old properties into much-needed housing, Double Edge aims to support both its ensemble and the broader Ashfield community.
Behind the scenes, this affordable housing initiative includes:
- Replacing oil heat with clean, efficient heat pumps
- Finalizing designs and permits for new and renovated affordable housing
- Studying the feasibility of building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) across their properties
- Laying the groundwork for long-term climate planning and education
To advance these initiatives, Double Edge is working with a dream team of partners from Indigenous- and Black-led groups like No Loose Braids and Jupiter Performance Studio to green builders like Wright Builders and Passive to Positive.
And the momentum hasn’t stopped there. Double Edge has teamed up with the Town of Ashfield to support a solar project at the town’s wastewater treatment plant. The proposed solar array is expected to cut the plant’s $190,000 annual electricity bill in half. It will also power other public buildings like the library and town offices. The project is designed to pay for itself in just over a year.
The proposed site, a large open field with full sun exposure, offers ideal conditions for building an array big enough to meet the plant’s energy needs.
In April 2025, the team hosted a site tour to showcase the project and share their vision. It was a chance for the community to see what’s possible when creativity and clean energy come together, and to highlight how local solar can cut town costs, keep money in the community, and strengthen the economy.
Final Act: Dreaming Bigger, Together
Double Edge's work continues through 2026, with plans to continue to align with local Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness efforts in Ashfield and Conway and keep pushing for climate justice through culture and collaboration.
They’re also developing a primer for rural nonprofits in Massachusetts. It will share lessons on creating resilient, affordable housing through the lens of clean energy and equity.
As one team member put it, “What once felt like a dream is already taking shape. It may seem bold, but I urge others to lean into this space where culture and climate meet – because that’s how we move forward.”
Ready to bring clean energy solutions to your community? Explore current EmPower grant opportunities!