Blog & Project Spotlights
Projects supported by the EmPower Massachusetts Program have been making great strides in improving access to clean energy. The following blog posts and project spotlights provide a glimpse into the work accomplished by EmPower awardees, as well as the many benefits priority communities have received through these Environmental Justice-focused clean energy initiatives. To get a feel for the range of innovative projects and programs designed and implemented by EmPower awardees, explore some of their stories:
Project Spotlights
- STEAM Ahead: Clean Energy Education for Massachusetts Teens, October 21, 2025
- Double Edge Theatre Isn't Just Acting, September 30, 2025
- Habitat For Humanity's Solar PV Toolkit, April 23, 2025
- Induction Stoves: Empowering Communities, Redefining Cooking, March 25, 2024
- Energy Allies' Community-Led Solar Photovoltaics in Boston, March 3, 2023
- Nantucket Revolving Clean Energy Fund, September 13, 2022
- Worcester HEART Partnership's Stakeholder Engagement, Workforce Development, and Retrofit Pilot, August 31, 2022
- Solar Technical Assistance Retrofit (STAR) Program - Round II, August 5, 2022
Program Overview
- Program Overview: Innovating Access to Clean Energy Benefits, July 22, 2021
Program Updates
- Program Update: Establishing Connections and Building Networks, July 22, 2022
- Program Update: Congratulations to Our First Round of Awardees, July 14, 2022
Grantee Highlights and Resources
- EmPower FY23 Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston Affiliate Solar Toolkit*
- EmPower FY22 Boston Community Solar Cooperative: Community-Led Solar in Boston - Lessons Learned
*Note: Some of the information on incentives on pages 19-20 of the Toolkit may no longer be accurate, as incentives change frequently. For up-to-date information on solar incentives, please visit Clean Energy Lives Here.
Awardees
The EmPower Massachusetts Program offers two funding opportunities:
- Innovation and Capacity Building Grants (ICB) are early-stage or “seed” funding opportunities focused on the exploration of innovative ideas for potential program models or projects, including the opportunity to build community or organizational capacity.
- Implementation Grants provide funding to implement community-based programs or projects that increase access to the benefits of clean energy and/or reduce energy burden.
As of early 2024, EmPower Massachusetts had awarded grants to 103 projects and programs. Explore the tables below (grouped by broad focus areas) to see what awardee teams are doing with EmPower support!
Decarbonization & Retrofit Planning; Technical Assistance Models
These EmPower projects focus on holistic retrofits of buildings including energy efficiency upgrades, clean energy, and electrification. Technical assistance models provide technical assistance such as assessments or feasibility studies.
| Team | Project Description | Grant Type & Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Acton Partner: BlocPower |
Develop an assessment to support and enable the electrification of low-income, multi-family and renter-occupied properties. | ICB: $20,000 |
|
Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation Partners: RMI, New Ecology, Onion Flats Architecture |
Advance a phase of Deep Energy retrofit project at Hano Homes, a low-income housing property in Allston, focusing on air source heat pump installation, tenant outreach, and consultations for electrification, and utility modeling. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Applied Economics Clinic | Conduct up to six technical research projects on behalf community based organizations to inform the development of future projects focused energy access or reduction of energy burden. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Arts Extension Institute, Inc. Partners: Double Edge Theatre; Ohketeau Cultural Center; Paper City Clothing Company/ArteSana Gallery & Youth Studio, UMass Amherst Arts Extension Services and UMass Amherst Clean Energy Extension |
Provide technical assistance to the listed arts and cultural organization partners for clean energy implementation. | ICB: $50,000 |
| Building Electrification Accelerator Fiscal agent: The Center for the Study of Public Policy |
Convene municipal teams, catalyze local programs, and coordinate allies to accelerate building electrification and retrofits in Environmental Justice communities. | Implementation: $40,031 |
| Commonwealth Green Low-Income Housing Coalition Fiscal Agent: Worcester Common Ground |
Design and refine clean energy education and outreach materials targeted to low-income housing providers to inform a future multi-year outreach campaign. | ICB: $25,000 |
| ForTheGood PBC Partners: Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust, Global Village at Tuck Away Farm LLC, CERO Cooperative |
Conduct stakeholder engagement sessions and perform a feasibility study for the development of a localized and co-operatively owned organics recycling model with decentralized and distributed anaerobic digestion systems. | Implementation: $50,000 |
| GoMortonGreen Partners: RISEngineering, Electro-Mechanical Services and Creative Engineering, McClorey Electric, Mass Signal Service, MVS Welding, NESHW, EH Electric & HVAC, ABCD |
Implementation 1 & 2: Pilot their research results from their initial project funded by EmPower to test a model of "1-Stop-Shop" technical support to aid EJ and income eligible individuals to transition to 100% electrification. ICB: Conduct research to create and write a documented approach and template for conducting advocacy, research, education and workforce training for coaching environmental justice communities about energy sustainability initiatives. |
Implementation 1: $25,000 Implementation 2: $150,000 ICB: $25,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston Partners: Resonant Energy, 14 Habitat for Humanity (HH) affiliates in MA |
Create a solar photovoltaic PV toolkit for HH affiliates across Massachusetts to provide solar PV education and report solar PV adoption rates, barriers, and recommendations for implementing including financing options. | Implementation: $50,000 |
| Lexington Housing Assistance Board | Hire a technical consultant to develop a "zero over time portfolio plan" to align energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades with their 10-year capital investment plan. | ICB: $50,000 |
| Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Boston Partners: Resonant Energy, Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations |
Implementation 1 & 2: Conduct the second and third phases of the Solar Technical Assistance Retrofit (STAR) Program, to provide technical and financial assistance to assess solar photovoltaic (PV) feasibility for affordable housing organization portfolios and provide pathways towards implementation up to 10 smaller affordable housing portfolios and 3 MW total of potential solar PV capacity. | Implementation 1: $150,000 Implementation 2: $150,000 |
| Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light | Provide energy concierge services for heat pump sizing and feasibility studies for energy efficiency and clean energy for houses of worship and begin to create a multilingual education and outreach campaign for future launch in the community. | ICB: $50,000 |
| Metropolitan Area Planning Council Partners: Boston Housing Authority, Alternatives for Community and Environment |
Research the potential adaptation of a model to pair clean energy resources and Section 8 housing voucher access, building on the Solar-for-Vouchers program in Minnesota. | ICB: $24,991 |
| New Ecology, Inc. | Provide technical services to non-profit organizations operating existing affordable housing properties to develop a zero over time plans for electrifying their portfolios. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity Partners: 14 Habitat for Humanity Affiliates across Massachusetts |
Pilot a project to realize the potential of all-electric homes for low-income, first-time homebuyers built by Habitat for Humanity Affiliates across Massachusetts. | ICB: $49,000 |
| Rural Development, INC | Implement the Rural Homes Pilot Program, where properties are rehabilitated for heath and energy efficiency and sold to low-income, first-time first-generation homebuyers of color. | Implementation: $150,000 |
Education & Outreach Campaigns; Energy Coaching
These EmPower projects are launching outreach campaigns focused on clean energy education and/or utilizing Energy Coaches or Ambassadors to guide the process.
| Team | Project Description | Grant Type & Amount |
|---|---|---|
| All In Energy Partners: Groundwork Lawrence, New Ecology Institute, Resonant Energy, Valley Home Insulation |
Connect residents and small business owners to income-eligible clean energy and energy efficiency programs, with a focus on reaching Spanish speakers in North Suffolk and Merrimack Valley Regions. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission | Conduct outreach and education program to increase access to energy efficiency and heat pump opportunities in Adams, Great Barrington, Lanesborough, Lee, North Adams, and Williamstown. Co-participation in Mass Save® Community First Partnership Program. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Partners: City of Pittsfield, Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Center for EcoTechnology, Berkshire Community Action Council |
Develop recommendations for addressing the issues stemming from tenant landlord split incentives, and expand participation on Mass Save® Community First Program through decarbonization efforts. | ICB: $23,018 |
| Cape Ann Climate Coalition Fiscal Agent: Town Green |
Implementation: Implement campaign informed by ICB work to educate and support building owners and especially low-income renters, in exploring and implementing energy efficiency measures and other clean energy technology such as shared solar photovoltaics PV. ICB: Conduct stakeholder engagement to provide education for low income renters and homeowners and language isolated residents explore ways to reduce their energy costs and inform a future large scale campaign in Gloucester environmental justice neighborhoods. |
Implementation: $150,000 ICB: $24,510 |
| Clean Water Fund Partners: Coalition for Social Justice, All In Energy, and Clean Air Taunton |
Conduct an education and outreach campaign to increase participation in Mass Save® energy efficiency programs. Co-participating in Community First Partnership Program. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Codman Square Neighborhood Development Coalition Partner: All In Energy |
Implementation: Expand CSNDC's unique Energy Ambassador program that leverages their rehab grant/loan program to enable access to installing clean energy or energy efficiency measures in their homes and become ambassadors to perform outreach to their community. ICB: Recruit participants to serve as Energy Ambassadors who will disseminate information about energy use, energy efficiency, and the impacts of climate change on Dorchester. |
Implementation: $150,000 ICB: $25,000 |
| Cooler Communities Fiscal Agent: Northeast Sustainable Energy Association |
Implementation 1: Hire and train Energy Advocates in Springfield, West Springfield and Pittsfield to increase environmental justice population access to Mass Save® Community First Partnership Program including energy efficiency and heat pumps. Implementation 2: Follow-funding to continue with work with Energy Advocates and co-participate in second year of the Mass Save® Community First Partnership Program. |
Implementation 1: $52,565 Implementation 2: $72,076 |
| Cooler Communities Fiscal agent: NESEA |
Research key programs to find successful strategies and best practices for engaging students (particularly in EJ communities), to increase their access to climate solutions and elevate the impact they can have in their communities. | ICB: $11,522 |
| Eastie Farm | Conduct a bi-lingual education campaign in East Boston focused on clean energy initiatives, tracking metrics of enrollment, and offer site tours to their greenhouse with a geothermal energy system. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Edward L. Cooper Garden and Education Center, Inc. | Hire staff to conduct an education campaign to share the benefits of clean energy career and workforce opportunities. | Implementation: $149,940 |
| Green Energy Consumers Alliance | Provide case management services to low- and moderate-income members to identify customized clean energy and energy efficiency opportunities and to explore potential development of a Solar PV Bank program to provide net-metering or alternative on-bill credits to these members. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Green Energy Consumers Alliance Partners: Palmer Capital, One-Way Construction, and Resonant Energy |
A roof-top solar photovoltaic (PV) program geared towards low- and moderate-income residents in Boston monetize on the benefits from tax-credits offered by the federal government that residential homeowners would otherwise not have the ability to monetize. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| GreenRoots Partner: City of Boston |
Conduct a Solarize-like education, outreach and adoption campaign to increase solar PV and battery storage adoption and access for low and moderate (LMI) residents in East Boston. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| MVS Welding LLC Partner: Kate Will and Northeast Clean Energy Council |
Creating a stakeholder landscape assessment for environmental justice and underrepresented population participation in an offshore wind industry secondary steel package. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. Partners: City of Quincy and Town of Randolph |
Supplement grant funding from Co-participation in the Mass Save® Community First Partnership Program to hire a full-time Energy Advisor to conduct energy efficiency outreach in environmental justice, Asian, and Immigrant communities in Quincy and Randolph, with the goal of increasing participation in Mass Save and other available energy efficiency programs. | ICB: $25,000 |
| RL Cook Community Consulting | Conduct an outreach campaign to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) residents in Mattapan about clean energy programs, develop a "Green Bulletin Board" website, and develop a solar photovoltaic survey. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Sungroup Energy Consultants LLC Partner: Massasoit Community College |
Launch a solarize-like solar photovoltaics (PV) education & adoption campaign in Brockton utilizing newly developed software designed to empower populations previously shut out of the PV market. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Sustainable Middleborough | Implementation: Hire a consultant to develop and distribute a "Middleborough Weatherization Guide" to provide local, community-specific information on weatherization resources for local residents. ICB: Hire a half-time Weatherization Navigator for outreach and education on energy efficiency and clean energy options for EJ neighborhoods, tenants, and low and moderate income households in Middleborough. |
Implementation: $110,013 ICB: $16,280 |
| The Capital Good Fund Partners: HomeWorks, Bright Home Solution |
Conduct a clean energy and electrification outreach campaign, with an Energy Concierge who will advise environmental justice residents and homeowners on energy efficiency and electrification upgrades, and assist them with contractor scheduling, and access to financing products. | Implementation: $127,950 |
| UMass Lowell Partner: Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association |
Accelerating energy efficiency program participation among the Lowell Cambodian community through social diffusion and an energy ambassador model. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Vineyard Power | Administer an educational Energy Transition program by hiring energy coaches to work with Portuguese-speaking Brazilian, language-isolated communities, enroll income-eligible ratepayers into their ratepayer assistance program, and co-participate in the Mass Save® Community First Partnership Program. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| City of Lowell Partners: 350 MA Greater Lowell and UMass Lowell |
Supplement grant funding from Co-participation in the Mass Save® Community First Partnership Program to hire a full-time Energy Advisor to conduct energy efficiency outreach in environmental justice EJ communities in Lowell. | ICB: $49,040 |
| Town of Athol | Hire a part-time Energy Advocate Consultant to participate in Municipal Decarbonization Task Force to conduct outreach and education on clean energy opportunities to Athol's Laotian and Spanish-speaking populations. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Town of Amherst Partner: Family Outreach of Amherst |
Multilingual tenant outreach to understand renters' concerns and ideal outcomes for their homes regarding energy efficiency. | ICB: $25,000 |
Net-Zero Grid; Energy Democracy
These EmPower projects use a variety of exploratory models to increase energy access, such as shared or community-owned solar PV or microgrids.
| Team | Project Description | Grant Type & Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City of Chelsea Partners: GreenRoots, Inc., Climable, Inc., Synapse Energy Economics, Inc., Clean Energy Solutions, Inc. |
Launch the Chelsea Microgrid Phase II project, an expansion of the innovative cloud-based microgrid approach, to develop a list of next potential facilities, selection criterion for participation, and conducting investment grade audits (IGA's)/cashflow estimates. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Climable, Inc. Partner: Chinatown Community Land Trust, Chinese Progressive Association, GreenRoots |
Conduct tenant engagement to identify and solve key obstacles to bring benefits of the cloud-based microgrid projects to tenants in Chinatown and Chelsea and begin installing some of the clean energy assets for the projects. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Energy Allies (f.k.a. Solstice Initiative) | Collaborate with a Community Advisory Board to co-develop a community shared and member-owned solar photovoltaic installation, providing member owners direct access to clean energy and reduced utility bills. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Energy Allies | Implement a Community Voices campaign and an Energy Justice Training program that will build energy justice champions within community organizations. | ICB: $50,000 |
| Good2Go LLC Partners: Preservation of Affordable Housing, the Boston House, Eversource, City of Boston |
Pilot an Electric Vehicle (EV) Ambassador program that will offer elderly, disabled, or unlicensed neighbors access to rides to critical appointments in exchange for driving credits the ambassadors performing the service. | Implementation: $142,660 |
| Green Roots | Continue support the implementation of the Chelsea virtual microgrid project through community education and outreach and purchasing clean energy assets critical to the project. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Grove Hall Main Streets | Receive technical assistance and feasibility studies for flat roofs in the Grove Hall Neighborhood of Dorchester, to determine opportunities for solar PV, green or white roofs, and green infrastructure. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Grove Hall Main Streets | Continue to conduct their pioneering work on Green Zones, a framework for prioritizing community well-being through environmental and economic considerations, and create a toolkit for cities to establish Green Zones. | ICB: $50,000 |
| Housing Nantucket Partner: ACK Smart |
Leverage funding to install solar photovoltaic systems on six affordable rental home sites in Nantucket, and utilize incentives from systems to launch a revolving clean energy loan fund. | Implementation: $50,000 |
| Impact Energy, LLC Partners: Black Economic Council of Massachusetts |
Create a plan for electric vehicle EV infrastructure implementation in Black and EJ communities while creating a "Massachusetts Black EV Motorist Green Book" that will help people identify where to charge their EV while patronizing Black owned businesses. | ICB: $50,000 |
| Mill Cities Community Investments | Implementation: Launch a new "Solar Plus" solar photovoltaic (PV) loan product which increases opportunities for direct ownership of solar PV in previously underserved low-income communities in Lawrence. ICB: Support their residential lending team in expanding awareness of its current home improvement loan programs via outreach and education to target communities. |
Implementation: $150,000 ICB: $25,000 |
| North Shore Community Development Coalition Partner: Resonant Energy |
Implementation: Implement the unique ownership & reinvestment model for installing solar PV on a majority of its 20 building portfolio. ICB: Hire a consultant to assess the feasibility of solar PV installation as a method of revenue generation to be reinvested in support services in their affordable housing portfolio in Salem. |
Implementation: $150,000 ICB: $25,000 |
| Rare Partners: RSM, Resonant Energy |
Identify host sites for community solar facilities and develop employment incentives focused on environmental justice neighborhoods. | Implementation: $149,100 |
| Resonant Energy Implementation Partners: Homeowners Rehab, Inc., Veterans Benefit Clearinghouse Development Organization ICB Partners: MySunBuddy, All In Energy, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation |
Implementation: Expand their Solar Equity Platform from a previous ICB grant, designed to help homeowners oversize solar photovoltaic systems and share credits with qualified income-eligible offtakers. ICB: Develop the Solar Equity Platform, a software designed to help homeowners oversize solar PV and share credits with qualified offtakers, and conduct a small-scale roll out. |
ICB: $25,000 Implementation: $150,000 |
| Resonant Energy Partners: All In Energy, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation |
Launch the fourth round of their Solar Access Program, which leases rooftops from low-income residents in exchange they receive solar photovoltaic credits to reduce their utility bills. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| The Boston Community Solar Cooperative Fiscal Agent: Energy Allies Partners: ReVision Energy, Co-Everything, Co-op Power, TSK Energy Solutions, Dorchester Food Co-op, Renewable Renegades, Fairmont Indigo CDC Collaborative |
Implementation 1: Formalize a legal entity focused on the development of member-owned community shared solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to build community wealth and resilience in underserved populations in Boston. Implementation 2: Develop and install first solar PV project on the Dorchester Food Co-op, fundraise, and develop a pipeline of projects and member-owners. |
Implementation 1: $50,000 Implementation 2: $150,000 |
| PowerOptions Partner: ADL Ventures |
Research feasible business models for a locally owned renewable energy co-op. | ICB: $45,000 |
| Taunton Housing Authority Partner: Beacon Climate Innovations |
A study of community needs and wants regarding a "community clean energy and resilience hub", as a part of their new community center design at the Riverside Apartment Complex for low income residents. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Worcester HEART Partnership Fiscal Agent: Main South CDC Partners: Worcester NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Committee, RMI, Main South CDC, Mothers Out Front Worcester, Sustainable Comfort, Resonant Energy, Training Resources of America, Inc., Worcester Community Action Council, N2N Worcester |
Support the activities of a local coalition laying the groundwork for a pilot addressing health and safety of tenants and home electrification without increasing cost of living and the development of a local workforce. | ICB: $25,000 |
Workforce Development & Formal Education
These EmPower projects focus on providing job training and mentorship within the clean energy sector.
| Team | Project Description | Grant Type & Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Browning the Green Space | Pilot a venture capital onramp program to grow a pipeline of investors of color in cleantech and climatetech. | Implementation: $109,000 |
| Browning the Green Space (BGS) Partner: Resonant Energy |
Prepare for applying to larger implementation funding sources and design the BGS Community Connector Initiative that will support innovative and diverse applicant teams for clean energy grant funding opportunities. | ICB: $20,000 |
| Browning the Green Space (BGS) Partner: Franklin Cummings Institute (f.k.a. Ben Franklin Institute of Technology) |
Student outreach and recruitment efforts, training and professional development, and student stipends for Franklin Cummings Institute's new Renewable Energy Technology Associate's Degree program. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Emerald Cities Collaborative Partners: New Ecology Inc, ABCD, MAPC |
Implement a program to connect populations underrepresented in the home performance contractor industry with partnership and training and a direct pipeline to affordable housing retrofit projects. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Home City Development Inc. | Support capital costs of clean energy implementation through Mass Save® All-Electric program, increase minority and women workforce capacity, and clean energy education to the residents of their housing portfolio in Springfield. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative of New England Partner: Self Reliance |
Perform a study to identify the needs of minority and women-owned businesses participating in the Blue Economy, how they benefit from the OSW industry, determine candidates for EJ training programs, and assess the capability of the Massachusetts Ocean Sensor Testbed for training. | ICB: $23,800 |
| MVS Welding LLC Partners: Kate Will and Northeast Clean Energy Council |
Creating a stakeholder landscape assessment for environmental justice and underrepresented population participation in an offshore wind industry secondary steel package. | ICB: $25,000 |
| NESEA & The Compliance Mentor Group (TCMG) | Leverage and expand TCMG's unique "Construction Mentor Program" (a youth workforce development program) with the NESEA network to run year-long career exploratory program bringing students from Boston-area voc/tech schools together with professionals in the high performance building industry. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) Partners: Valley Home Insulation, Live Well Springfield Climate Justice Initiative, Arise for Social Justice, Neighbor to Neighbor Springfield, Springfield Works |
Support partner organizations in conducting outreach to Black and Brown Springfield residents to refine their idea for a Green Workforce Business Initiative, and to meet with stakeholders and experts. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Salem Alliance for the Environment Partner: Salem Latino Leadership Coalition |
Support their Offshore Wind Coordinator to build a comprehensive approach to bilingual outreach and education for the emerging offshore wind economy in Salem, targeting workforce development opportunities. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Slipstream, Inc. Partner: TSK Consulting |
Exploring the feasibility of adapting/refining and implementing a Massachusetts version of their innovative affordable housing and workforce development program "BIT Aide". | ICB: $34,000 |
| STEAM Ahead | Implement an education and outreach initiative focusing on educating students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) vocational career pathways and clean energy resources. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts | Conduct community engagement in several Boston neighborhoods on interest in air source heat pump technology (ASHP), job opportunities to inform a larger scale initiative to reduce barriers to ASHP and related job opportunities. | ICB: $25,000 |
Story Map
Explore the 80+ exciting projects supported by MassCEC's EmPower Massachusetts in the first two rounds of the program. Read the press release from the first round, and check out the map below. On the map, you can use the +/- buttons to zoom in, use your mouse to pan, and use the scrollbar at the right to see the full list of awardees. Click on the awardee's name or location pin to get more information about their project, including excerpts from their application.
Note: The points depicted on the map locate the address of the lead organization for each project, and are not necessarily representative of the area(s) in which the projects themselves are operating. The Project location listed for each project provides this information.