MassCEC funds climate solution innovation to meet Massachusetts' emission reduction goals while growing the state’s clean energy economy.

High-Performance Buildings

MassCEC accelerates the most impactful, resilient, and cost-effective electrification technologies and approaches to decarbonizing the building sector.

MassCEC fosters cutting-edge clean transportation technologies, enables new finance and business models for electric vehicle deployment, and accelerates the growth of clean transportation companies in Massachusetts.

Net-Zero Grid

MassCEC supports technologies that enable a transition to a modernized and smarter grid, innovative business models, and market development policies for delivering resiliency, risk management, and clean energy.

Offshore Wind

MassCEC works to maximize the economic development opportunities of this growing industry, including training a workforce and ensuring supply chain opportunities.

We focus on reducing the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions

Transportation, buildings and our electric grid are the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in Massachusetts. Through the funding we award, we work to discover, scale up and more equitably distribute technologies and business models that use less, and cleaner, energy. We are working towards the goals in the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030.

Massachusetts 2020 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector

Source: Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030

Our Approach

Emerging Climatetech

We fund innovative clean energy technologies from research through commercialization

Workforce Development

We help students of all backgrounds start their clean energy careers, connect the state’s clean energy companies with the workers they need to expand their operations, and partner with schools and training organizations to teach future clean energy workers the skills they need to succeed

Market Transformation

We accelerate adoption of new clean energy technologies, prove and scale business models, and develop and support critical clean energy infrastructure

Diversity & Inclusion

We incorporate principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice in all aspects of our work in order to promote the equitable distribution of the health and economic benefits of clean energy and support a diverse and inclusive clean energy industry

Investments

We make direct equity and venture debt investments in early-stage companies across the climatetech landscape, filling funding gaps to advance clean energy technology, create jobs and leverage private capital throughout the Commonwealth

MassCEC’s work fosters a nation-leading climatetech ecosystem

Massachusetts ranked #1 on the Clean Energy Community Power Scorecard for the 5th straight year by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (2021)

Massachusetts ranked #1 for median clean energy wage by E2 (2020)

Massachusetts ranked #1 in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified square feet per capita by the USGBC (2020)

Massachusetts ranked #2 for Innovation overall by Bloomberg, for the 2nd year in a row (2020)

Massachusetts ranked #2 most energy efficient state in the country by ACEEE (2022)

Boston ranked #2 U.S. city for clean energy by ACEEE (2020)

Massachusetts ranked #2 for clean energy workers per capita in the U.S. by E2 (2020)

Massachusetts ranked #5 for total solar workers in the U.S. by Solar Energy Industries Association (2021)

Massachusetts ranked #7 for total clean energy workers in the U.S. by E2 (2021)

EXAMPLES OF OUR AWARDEES

Clean Transportation

Catalyst, January 2019; InnovateMass, May 2021

Through a Catalyst grant, Multiscale Systems developed a new class of vehicle materials designs that are intended to reduce the weight of vehicle components and increase fuel mileage. The materials are primarily suited for heavy duty vehicles, such as box trucks.

With InnovateMass funding, Multiscale performed a road demonstration of vehicle lightweighting with mechanical metamaterials manufactured at scale.

Accelerating Clean Transportation for All, 2022

Through an Act4All grant, MassBike is delivering Delivering 100 e-bikes to residents in Worcester, helping them stay active, replace car trips and reduce emissions. The funding has also supported e-bike trainings, workshops, and organized group rides.

Accelerating Clean Transportation Now, 2020

Enabled by an ACTNOW grant, E4theFuture launched an income-tiered electric carsharing program in Roxbury. The program operates using a subscription model where drivers choose how many hours they will drive each month. With over 120 members and 4 EVs, E4TheFuture is increasing access to clean transportation.

Mass Fleet Advisor, November 2021

Through Mass Fleet Advisor funding, CALSTART is providing free technical assistance to private fleets to reduce barriers to electrifying medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. With the potential to work with up to 200 businesses and nonprofits, CALSTART is helping fleets across Massachusetts navigate fleet electrification.

High-Performance Buildings

Catalyst, May 2019; InnovateMass, March 2021

Supported by a Catalyst grant, Aeroshield developed a clear, insulating, low-cost silica aerogel that is for high-performance, energy efficient windows. The company is conducting standardized testing and demonstration of their technology with funding from InnovateMass.

Passive House Design Challenge, 2018

With an award from the Passive House Design Challenge, North Shore CDC designed Harbor Village, a 30-unit, 100% affordable housing/mixed-use development in the City of Gloucester, to meet the highest energy efficiency and sustainability standards. Completed in 2021 for a mere 1.8% increment in construction cost over baseline, the project is helping dispel myths about the cost of meeting the Passive House standard, while also documenting operational savings.

Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot, April 2022

Affordable housing owner Worcester Common Ground received a grant of $120,000 and technical support through the Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot to remove fossil-fuels from and increase the energy efficiency of one of the triple deckers in their portfolio.

EmPower Massachusetts, 2022

GreenRoots, a community-based environmental justice organization in Chelsea and East Boston, partnered with City of Boston through MassCEC’s EmPower program. They received an EmPower grant of $150,000 to increase solar and battery storage in East Boston using a Solarize model, a community education and outreach model with a partner installer. As a result, they developed Solarize East Boston, which is focused on solutions that serve low- and moderate-income residents.

Net Zero Grid

AmplifyMass, March 2015;
Catalyst, May 2016;
Additional Funding, 2023

NewGrid is devising solutions for grid congestion and the integration of renewables. MassCEC initially supported the development of the founders’ technology through a AmplifyMass grant. With their most recent MassCEC funding, NewGrid is expanding the application of its NewGrid Router transmission topology optimization technology and demonstrating it for ISO-NE. This project will increase the grid’s flexibility and resiliency.

Catalyst, January 2019;
Net Zero Grid Distribution Planning Lab, 2021-23

Gridtwin is seeking to accelerate grid modernization through streamlining the interconnection process of distributed energy resources. Gridtwin’s technology, engineered with the support of a Catalyst grant, allows users to quickly search and filter potential solar sites by feeder.

In the Net Zero Grid Distrubution Planning Lab, the company worked with the utilities’ internal databases to forecast the most likely sites of future solar development, while also supporting efforts to streamline and optimize interconnection upgrades.

Clean Energy and Resilience Study, 2021

MassCEC's Clean Energy and Resilience (CLEAR) study found that the City of Framingham could benefit from the installation of Solar PVs and battery storage systems. As a result, Framingham is developing a request for proposals for resilient clean energy projects, informed by the CLEAR study. This project aims to increase local power resiliency, so that essential services can be provided during power outages using renewable energy and storage.

Grid Modernization and Infrastructure Planning, 2023

MassCEC retained Baringa to identify ways to lower the barriers to the large-scale deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) in Massachusetts. Baringa first engaged DER owners, operators, and electric distribution companies, then developed a set of pragmatic frameworks for optimizing the value of DER usage. Baringa's report will also include recommendations on key program design considerations and illustrative case studies. The report is anticipated to be released in early 2024.

Offshore Wind

AmplifyMass, August 2021 & March 2023;
InnovateMass, September 2023

Triton Systems, Inc aims to develop and commercialize an innovative floating offshore wind anchoring system and installation tool. The Triton team has been developing an innovative subsea anchor installation system designed to meet industry needs. Utilizing helical anchors, this technology reduces the cost of anchoring and mooring, simplifies offshore logistics, and limits environmental impact through noise reduction.

Offshore Wind Works, 2019, 2021 & 2022

Through Offshore Wind Works, UMass Amherst developed an online offshore wind professional certificate program for graduate and working professionals. Additional funding supported recruitment and scholarships for Priority Group members, curriculum expansion and enhancements, and industry support outreach. Graduates of the certificate program are working for offshore wind developers, shipbuilders, turbine manufacturers, research and development consortiums, and state and local governments.

Offshore Wind Works, 2019

The Pile Drivers and Divers were supported by Offshore Wind Works to send 60 members to obtain Global Wind Organisation (GWO) Basic Safety Training certification at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Local 56 ended up graduating 71 members from GWO programs, including a diverse mix of gender, ethnicity, and age. Those members were some of the first certified construction crews in the nation and have worked over 20,000 hours on offshore wind projects to date.

Ports Investment Challenge, 2022

Shoreline Offshore received a grant through the Ports Investment Challenge to build-out their marine terminal with new bulkhead, docking space, lift piers, fueling capacity and other infrastructure. The terminal is located at the site of the former Revere Copper in New Bedford. Once complete, the Shoreline terminal will provide the offshore wind industry with a waterfront terminal and centralized access to a network of local business owners. Read more.

Workforce Development

Equity Workforce Planning, July 2022

MassHire North Shore Workforce Board received support from an Equity Workforce Planning Grant to develop a regional equitable workforce training plan. They are partnering with trade associations, community groups, and service providers to ensure successful outreach and training pipelines for environmental communities in Salem and the surrounding region.

Minority- and Women-Owned Business Support, July 2022

The Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council supports Minority-and Women-Owned Businesses (MWBEs) in climate critical areas. With their MWBE Support Grant, they work to ensure MWBEs have awareness of potential contract opportunities in climate critical areas, the financial and intellectual capital necessary to compete for these opportunities, and the certifications and licenses necessary to take advantage of them.

Clean Energy Internship Program, Summer 2023

After a successful internship with SeaAhead, Maddie participated in the Clean Energy Internship Program for the second summer in a row with Aloft Systems, which develops and manufactures modern sails to increase ship efficiency. As the Marketing and Brand Development Intern, Maddie wrote press releases, social media posts, website pages, and proposals for funding. She hopes that other interested students will “use the internship program to explore different facets of the clean energy industry” rather than just “sticking with what [they] know”.

Clean Energy Internship Program, Summer 2021

Through the MassCEC Clean Energy Internship program, Natalia spent the summer of 2021 with a paid internship in the high-performance buildings sector. She worked for Haycon LLC, a construction company that builds developments in the Boston area to the ultra-efficient Passive House standard. Through her research projects, construction site visits, and interactions with the Haycon team, Natalia gained knowledge of clean energy retrofits and professional development skills. Following her internship, she began another job at a sustainability-focused organization.

MassCEC Focus

We focus on reducing the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions

Massachusetts 2020 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector

Our Approach

Market Transformation

MassCEC’s work fosters a nation-leading climatetech ecosystem

EXAMPLES OF OUR AWARDEES

Clean Transportation

High-Performance Buildings

Net Zero Grid

Offshore Wind

Workforce Development