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Green School Works program will create cleaner, healthier learning environments in nine Massachusetts school districts
BOSTON – Today, the Mass Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) awarded $19 million in grants to help upgrade public school facilities through the second round of the Green School Works program. Funded by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the program aims to make K–12 public school buildings more modern and energy-efficient, lower school district costs, reduce pollution, and create safer, healthier learning environments for students and educators.
This round of funding will modernize energy systems in nine school districts across Massachusetts, improving the well-being of 10,000 students. Awards prioritized equity, supporting six districts where more than half of students come from low-income backgrounds. Many of these districts span environmentally burdened communities and Gateway Cities that have long been underserved by building upgrades and infrastructure investment.
“Every student deserves a safe, healthy and modern place to learn,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Through Green School Works, we’re helping communities upgrade aging school buildings, lower energy costs and create better learning environments for students and educators across Massachusetts. These investments are good for our schools, good for our communities and good for our clean energy future.”
“This program is a direct investment in the cities and towns that make Massachusetts strong,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “When we help a school district modernize its energy systems, we’re freeing up resources that go right back into the classroom. This means better materials, better programs, and better experiences for students and families who count on their schools every day.”
The second round of Green School Works funding builds on the success of the program’s inaugural round, which awarded over $52 million to 18 schools across the Commonwealth in 2025. Massachusetts has 1,800 public school buildings, many of which rely on aging energy infrastructure that drives up costs and diminishes air quality for students and staff. The Green School Works program helps districts modernize these systems, freeing up resources that can be redirected to teaching and learning.
“Clean energy upgrades are good for the environment and good for kids,” said Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Green School Works is how we make that happen—smarter buildings, healthier students, and a cleaner state.”
“Schools are at the heart of our communities, and they should reflect our commitment to the health and well-being of every student and educator inside them,” said MassCEC CEO Ben Downing. “These investments don't just upgrade buildings, they signal to students, families, and educators that their environment matters and that everyone can, should, and will benefit from clean energy and climatetech.”
“When students are sitting in classrooms that are too hot or too cold, learning takes a back seat; no matter how talented the teacher or how dedicated the student,” said Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike. “Green School Works removes those barriers, giving educators the conditions they need to teach and students the environments they need to thrive. Smart investments in school infrastructure are smart investments in education, and this program is a model for how to deliver both at once.”
The following projects were selected for funding under the Green School Works program:
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Hardy Elementary School (Arlington Public Schools) - $2,000,000
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Funding will be used for a ground-source heat pump system.
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Falmouth Public Schools - $5,000,000
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Funding will be used to partially support a new ground-source heat pump system at one of two Falmouth Public Schools.
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Lawrence High School (Lawrence Public Schools) - $100,000
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Funding will be used to implement core weatherization and load reduction measures to ensure efficient sizing of a future ground-source heat pump.
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Ferryway School (Malden Public Schools) - $1,950,000
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Funding will be used to retrofit existing aging HVAC with an innovative cascading air-to-water heat pump.
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Donald P. Timony Grammar School (Methuen Public Schools) - $1,700,000
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Funding will be used for the first phase of an electrification retrofit, including a heat recovery system, electrification of the water heating system, and new controls ahead of a boiler replacement.
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Keith Middle School, Normandin Middle School, Roosevelt Middle School (New Bedford Public Schools) - $1,200,000
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Funding will be used for HVAC upgrades and heat pump rooftop units at each school.
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Northampton High School (Northampton Public Schools) - $4,000,000
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Funding will support a new ground-source heat pump system.
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Truro Central School - $320,000
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Funding will be used towards the construction of a solar carport.
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City View Discovery School (Worcester Public Schools) - $2,730,000
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Funding will be used for conversion to low-temperature hydronic distribution and a new partial air-to-water heat pump system.
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For more information on the Green School Works program, visit masscec.com/program/green-school-works-grants.
Statements of Support
“These critical grants from the Green School Works program will allow numerous school districts across the Commonwealth to sustainably improve their infrastructure while driving climate progress for the community as a whole,” said State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “I want to thank the Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center for their work and dedication to ensuring these grants became a reality. I look forward to working with them and my colleagues in the Legislature to continue the great work of this program.”
“The legislature remains committed to pushing towards net zero emissions in Massachusetts,” said State Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education (D-Winchester). “Green School Works grants are a great way to assist schools and municipalities with the cost of transitioning to cleaner, energy efficient infrastructure with a long-lasting impact.”
“The Legislature established Green School Works to bring innovative clean energy to our schools and show students that these solutions are both pioneering and practical, while assisting in the affordability issues in our cities and towns” said State Representative Mark Cusack, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy (D-Braintree). “By committing a significant level of funding since the program's inception, we are helping our local communities put these savings back into the schools and improve learning conditions while demonstrating to the next generation that a sustainable future is already within reach.”
“Safe, healthy, and supportive school environments are fundamental to student success,” said State Representative Ken Gordon, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education (D-Bedford). “The Legislature and the Administration remain committed to investing in our schools, our communities, and a cleaner, healthier environment for every student.”
About the Mass Clean Energy Center
The Mass Clean Energy Center is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy and climatetech sector across the Commonwealth to spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits, increase affordability, and secure long-term economic opportunities for the people of Massachusetts. Since 2010, MassCEC has awarded $990 million in programs and investments and attracted $3 billion in private and public funds.
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