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 |
|---|---|---|
| Acton, Town of 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 |
|
BeMoreGreen2, LLC |
Participate in the Boston Green Ribbon Commission program to develop a climate action plan informing the development of clean energy programs serving income eligible communities in Boston. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) | Administer a Clean Energy Community Chest to distribute funds for minor capital improvements to increase access to Mass Save energy efficiency upgrades in Environmental Justice neighborhoods in Pittsfield and convene stakeholders to explore community shared solar and develop a Pittsfield specific toolkit. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| 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 |
| Cape Ann Climate Coalition, Inc. | Conduct outreach to low- and moderate-income residents via three local employers' workplaces in Cape Ann and guide them to complete home energy audits and clean energy work in their homes, and explore the potential for the utilization of window heat pump technology. | Implementation: $50,000 |
| 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 |
| Community Systems Support and Management Services, Inc. Partner: Community Systems, Inc. |
Conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to identify clean energy opportunities for CSI-owned properties (in Plymouth and Barnstable counties), which support low-income residents with disabilities. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Double Edge Theatre Productions Incorporated Partners: Ohketeau Cultural Center; No Loose Braids; Jupiter Performance Studio |
Implement near-term clean energy projects, including clean energy and permanently affordable housing for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) artists on the Double Edge Theatre campus, and long-term climate and clean energy planning for priority groups in Ashfield and the surrounding region. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Dudley Neighbors, Inc. Partner: Resonant Energy |
Conduct community interviews with DNI's residents in Dorchester to evaluate solar photovoltaic (PV) options and the potential for a shared solar PV project, culminating in a replicable toolkit with recommendations. | ICB: $42,000 |
| Envr Air, LLC Partner: Fenway Community Development Corporation |
Install packaged window heat pumps in an affordable housing building in Boston to provide direct tenant benefits, and explore opportunity to install across the broader affordable housing portfolio. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Everett, City of Partners: La Comunidad, Mystic River Watershed Association |
Perform a community-engaged design process and complete engineering and construction plans to inform the transformation of local community center in Everett into a resilience hub to serve low-income and environmental justice residents during extreme weather events. | Implementation: $50,000 |
| Fenway Community Development Corporation Partner: Resonant Energy |
Secure technical services to support the installation of solar photovoltaics (PV) on the historic Newcastle Saranac buildings in Boston and provide educational materials for other historic building owners looking to do the same. | 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 |
IMPL 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 |
| Hebrew SeniorLife, Inc. | Obtain technical support to explore recommendations for most impactful measures to reduce the carbon footprint of HSLs Simon C Fireman property in Randolph, an affordable Senior Living community. | Implementation: $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 |
| Housing Corporation of Arlington Partners: Resonant Energy, Town of Arlington, Utile Design |
Test the feasibility of a battery storage system for one of HCA's affordable housing developments in East Arlington, and produce a case study or toolkit based on generalizeable lessons learned. | ICB: $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 |
IMPL 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 |
| Metropolitan Area Planning Council | Engage with renter households and community-based organizations in Ashland, Framingham, and Natick, to expand priority populations' participation in state and utility decarbonization and climate resiliency programs. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Milton, Town of Partners: Milton Residences for the Elderly and Clean Energy Solutions, Inc. |
Plan a program to bring the benefits of community solar, virtual microgrids, and deep energy retrofits (DERs) to low-income, utility-metered tenants in the Winter Valley housing complex in Milton. | Implementation: $149,000 |
| 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 |
| New Ecology, Inc. Partners: Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, Renewability |
Implement and monitor two tiers of drain water heat recovery systems which are designed to be upgradable to a drain-source heat pump system as a future step in the property decarbonization plan at 12 CSNDC affordable housing units in Dorchester. | Implementation: $50,000 |
| North Suffolk Office of Resilience and Sustainability Partners: Metropolitan Area Planning Council, RevereWorks, GreenRoots |
Enable Chelsea and Revere school districts to pursue a coordinated effort to leverage upcoming funding opportunities to decarbonize and improve community resilience across both school systems. | ICB: $25,000 |
| 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 |
| RentAnAC Partner: PACE |
Inform the creation of a subsidized window heat-pump purchasing and leasing service to offer affordable options to regulate temperature and enhance air quality for renters. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Resonant Energy, LLC Partners: 5 Habitat for Humanity affiliates (Greater Boston, Cape Cod, MetroWest/Greater Worcester, Essex County, Greater Springfield) |
Support five Habitat for Humanity Affiliates across Massachusetts who are ready to install solar PV by providing technical assistance to identify the best paths toward installation. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Resonant Energy, LLC Partner: Providers' Council |
Launch the Solar Upgrading Non-profits (SUN) program, to provide technical assistance such as feasibility studies and grant writing to support nonprofit human services providers across MA in pursuing solar PV installations. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Resonant Energy, LLC Partners: New Ecology, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, City of Boston Mayor's Office of Housing |
Develop a list of recommendations for the City of Boston and MHIC to include in their requirements for participants in the Boston Acquisition Fund, mission-driven developers who purchase occupied, naturally occurring affordable properties, to help ensure the funding requires common sense greening practices. | ICB: $50,000 |
| 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 |
| Terawatt | Finalize Terawatt's multilingual solar PV focused software platform, expanding the project into a three-way marketplace connecting customers, solar PV installers, and financing companies, to enhance the accessibility of solar PV adoption for environmental justice communities. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Vermont Energy Investment Corporation Partners: Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity and Greater Boston Habitat for Humanity |
Provide a model for technical assistance to listed partners and other Massachusetts Habitat for Humanity affiliates on the design of all-electric homes, in alignment with existing incentives, through in-person and virtual trainings and a guidebook. | Implementation: $149,825 |
| Western New England University Partners: Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH), Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, Inc. (PVHH) |
Support low-income homeowners and residents in West Springfield to move forward with energy efficiency measures, through piloting AI technology to detect heat loss and develop retrofitting plans, and providing workforce training for WNEU students. | Implementation: $149,700 |
| Westside Legends, Inc. Partner: Berkshire Regional Planning Commission |
Conduct a solar photovoltaic feasibility study for the Westside neighborhood of Pittsfield, design affordable housing developments to be solar PV-ready, and educate and enroll residents of Pittsfield in solar PV programs. | 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 |
| Amherst, Town of Partner: Family Outreach of Amherst |
Multilingual tenant outreach to understand renters' concerns and ideal outcomes for their homes regarding energy efficiency. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Art for Public Good Partners: Ezra Markowitz, DearTomorrow, Cooler Communities |
Use an art installation and educational curriculum to educate priority populations and collect robust social science data about climate art’s ability to drive the shift in cultural perspective about energy use and clean energy solutions. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Athol, Town of | 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 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Partner: Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity |
Deploy an energy coaching program to assist the Pittsfield's low- and moderate-income residents with improving energy efficiency, reducing energy costs, navigating solar, EV, and energy efficiency programs while providing a professional development pathway for low-income residents. | Implementation: $300,000 |
| Berkshire Environmental Action Team | Perform targeted multi-lingual community outreach and engagement to environmental justice populations in Pittsfield, primarily on energy use and electrification, to inform future funding and grant opportunities. | ICB: $25,000 |
|
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Partner: Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity |
Pilot a solar photovoltaic adoption campaign in Adams, Great Barrington, Lanesborough, Lee, North Adams and Williamstown. | Implementation: $300,000 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Partners: City of Pittsfield, Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Center for EcoTechnology, Berkshire Community Action Council |
ICB: Develop recommendations for addressing the issues stemming from tenant landlord split incentives, and expand participation on Mass Save® Community First Program through decarbonization efforts. IMPL: 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. |
ICB: $23,018 IMPL: $150,000 |
| Black Leaders in Energy Development Partners: Good2Go, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), SW Ventures NPV Energy, Black Girls with Teslas |
Hire a part-time energy coach, conduct robust community engagement around electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging, install EV charging stations around Boston, and further develop the Novel EV Platform which will serve as the digital asset to host the Massachusetts EV Motorist Greenbook. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Boston Climate Action Network Partners: Mutual Aid Eastie, Reclaim Roxbury, Southwest Boston CDC, The Boston Project |
Employ energy coaches to help residents in Boston's Environmental Justice neighborhoods navigate Mass Save and clean energy programs, and develop a two-pronged training module, one focused on landlord/owner occupied programs and another focused on renters. | Implementation: $300,000 |
| Campus Compact Partners: The Alliance for Climate Transition, Old Colony Planning Council |
Seek proof of concept for Greater Brockton Energy Collaborative program model utilizing partnerships with schools and energy ambassadors to provide environmental education, outreach, and home energy workshops to provide accessible, practical environmental education to help lower home energy costs for local residents. | ICB: $25,000 |
| 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 |
| Cape Verdean Association of Brockton, Inc. Partners: Greater Brockton Minority Business Association; REVISE |
Expand energy efficiency outreach to residents and businesses in Brockton and incorporate solar PV opportunities into existing programs, completing home energy assessments, implementing weatherization measures, and facilitating small businesses' participation in energy efficiency programs. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| 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 |
| 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 Partner: Ener-G-save; Fiscal Agent: Northeast Sustainable Energy Association |
Explore the feasibility and potential impact of a fictional book targeted at middle school age students to educate them about clean energy career opportunities. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Cooler Communities Fiscal Agent: Northeast Sustainable Energy Association |
IMPL 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. IMPL 2: Follow-funding to continue with work with Energy Advocates and co-participate in second year of the Mass Save® Community First Partnership Program. ICB: 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. |
Implementation 1: $52,565 Implementation 2: $72,076 ICB: $11,522 |
| Cornerstone Global Partner: African American Community Center of Lowell |
Pilot a clean energy outreach and education campaign to youth populations in Lowell to raise awareness about decarbonization and clean energy consumption, and provide technical assistance to support their household’s adoption of clean energy. | ICB: $50,000 |
|
Develop CHI |
Launch an affordable and holistic housing project in Holyoke, including the installation of a solar PV canopy, and provide a circular source of capital to build further housing in underserved communities. | Implementation: $300,000 |
|
El Punto Paper City LLC, dba Paper City Clothing Company (PCCC) Partner: UMass Arts Extension Service |
Explore the potential to partner with an existing textile insulation manufacturer to produce or supply sustainable insulation to PCCC's region, engage residents with free weekly workshops and events about creative reuse and weatherization, and support energy efficient upgrades for PCCC's renovation of a building in downtown Holyoke. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| 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 |
| Emerald Cities Collaborative Partner: Latino Support Network |
Provide comprehensive building retrofit services to low-income households in Lynn, developing a Weatherization & Healthy Homes Guidebook, a Lynn Community Resource Group, and case management support, while delivering retrofits to eligible households. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Green Beverly Partners: Beverly Bootstraps, Beverly Council on Aging, Homeworks |
Accelerate energy efficiency adoption and decarbonization by using Community Ambassadors and Energy Companions to navigate clean energy transitions for homeowners, renters, and landlords. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| Green Beverly | Research financing options for landlords and tenants regarding energy efficiency items not covered by income eligible programs, educate local trades on heat pump conversions, and research best approaches to creating a collaborative landlord/tenant relationship as it relates to weatherization and electrification. | ICB: $24,000 |
| 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 |
|
Ipswich Electric Light Department Partners: Center for Ecotechnology (CET), Ipswich Council on Aging, Ipswich Housing Partnership, Action Inc., Town of Ipswich Climate Resiliency Committee |
Dispatch an energy efficiency liaison to identified priority groups participating in the Inclusive Utility Investment (IUI) program, to help residents access the IELD’s IUI loan program and maximize energy savings by leveraging available incentives and rebates for heat pump and weatherization projects. | Implementation: $50,000 |
| La Comunidad, Inc. Partner: Metropolitan Area Planning Council |
Scale up the pilot phase of Electrify Everett which aims to eliminate linguistic, cultural, and building ownership barriers for residents and small businesses to complete projects through Mass Save or other decarbonization-related programs, reduce energy costs for participants, and complete a decarbonization retrofit of the LCI and Everett Community Growers offices. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| La Comunidad, Inc. Partners: Oliviera's Restaurant, Well Coffee House, Everett Community Growers, City of Everettt |
Support one part-time Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Energy Advocate and three BIPOC Youth Energy Ambassadors to engage Everett Latino, Haitian and Portuguese community members in heat pump info sessions and clean energy community education workshops in their native languages to further expand the Electrify Everett program. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Lowell, City of 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 |
| MassEnergize Partners: Energize Framingham and Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning |
Employ an Energy Coach and train local residents as Energy Ambassadors / Solar Influencers to conduct a comprehensive outreach campaign designed to reduce EJ and income qualified residents’ energy burden via participation in community solar and/or signing up for R-2 income eligible rate codes, while building clean energy awareness within their community. | Implementation: $300,000 |
| Medford, City of Partners: Medford Energy and Environment Committee and 350 Mass Mystic Valley Node |
Implement a full decarbonization outreach campaign for EJ and renter populations in Medford including energy efficiency, electrification, and renewables, with residents receiving personalized decarbonization plans, referrals to partner organizations, and one-one-one support from an Energy Coach throughout the process. | Implementation: $300,000 |
| More Than Marketing Partner: Browning the Green Space |
Create a clean energy awareness campaign to educate and entertain the GEN Z demographic in Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roxbury and Dorchester, to take action and become invested in the clean energy industry. | Implementation: $50,000 |
| 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 |
| My Path to Freedom Trust Partners: NewVue Communities, Clinton Bigelow Free Public Library, Eco Auto Inc. |
Engage in one-on-one homeowner consultations and bilingual workshops, and provide mini-grants to assist income-eligible homeowners with urgent energy-related costs, code remediation, or critical safety repairs. | Implementation: $50,000 |
| Nectar Community Investments | Expand access to clean energy financing for low- and moderate-income homeowners across Essex and Middlesex counties by providing subsidies to help access energy-efficient resources and offering long-term, low-interest loans and comprehensive support. | Implementation: $50,000 |
| Paper City Clothing Company Partner: UMass Arts Extension Service |
Conduct a peer-to-peer clean energy outreach, education and employment campaign with Spanish-speaking and immigrant populations in Holyoke. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| 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 |
| Somerville, City of Partners: Community Action Agency of Somerville and Mothers Out Front |
Employ an Energy Advisor to educate and equip households with the knowledge to make informed decisions about energy retrofits, with a focus on Somerville environmental justice and renter populations. | Implementation: $243,094 |
| 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 |
| TRUE Diversity Partners: Beacon Climate Innovations, Inc. and Sovations |
Hire a Clean Energy Ambassador and establish two sites that will offer community spaces, after school programs, and climate focused initiatives, primarily serving low-income and underserved youth and families. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| 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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Agrarian Trust | Produce a clean energy feasibility plan for Deer Run Farm and its facilities, which serves a geographically diverse Tribal community in MA. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Better Future Project, Inc. | Establish 2-4 new Better Future Project Climate Resilience Hubs in environmental justice communities, which will serve as permanent centers for climate preparedness education, emergency resources, and community support, ensuring long-term resilience in historically marginalized neighborhoods. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Browning the Green Space (BGS) | Implement and scale activities across Massachusetts under the BGS Community Connector Initiative, a pilot project which offers support for the development of innovative and diverse applicant teams for state clean energy grant funding opportunities and maximizes access to capital in EJ communities across Massachusetts. | 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 |
IMPL 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. IMPL 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 |
| Building Electrification Accelerator, Inc | Support and expand the BEA network of participating environmental justice (EJ) municipalities, communities and organizations and connect them with resources, model programs, and funding for equity-focused local building electrification policies and programs. | Implementation: $99,896 |
| Center for Ecotechnology (CET) | Scale-up Inclusive Utility Investment (IUI) programs across Massachusetts, which leverage utility investment and on bill financing mechanisms to increase access to clean energy and energy efficiency specifically for renters and low-income homeowners. | ICB: $25,000 |
|
Chinatown Power |
Deploy tenant engagement and pilot projects to address barriers to tenant resilience in Boston Chinatown, exploring solutions like an improved electrical distribution panel for an entire building, heat pump installations, and other improvement measures. | Implementation: $149,000 |
| Chelsea, City of 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 |
|
Clean Energy Solutions, Inc.
|
Develop a shared vision for a "Community Resilience Hub" at St. Peters Church in Salem, in preparation to implement a long-term energy transition initiative that will include solar energy and battery storage, district geothermal connections, heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) replacements, heat pump installations, energy efficiency improvements, and scoping for a future community-shared solar project. | 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 |
|
Ridez |
Innovate, refine and pilot a project to offer a community-centered e-scooter/e-bike sharing service to revolutionize rural and sustainable commuting, and offer it to empower environmental justice, low-income and transit insecure communities in Taunton MA. | ICB: $25,000 |
|
Double Edge Theatre |
Invest in clean energy, nature-based solutions, and affordable housing in Ashfield, using cultural engagement strategies to identify opportunities for creative partnership to advance community resilience. | ICB: $50,000 |
| 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 |
|
ForTheGood PBC |
Implement the Community Supported Biocycling Technical Assistance Program, to standardize a model to champion partner success integrating the co-benefits of decentralized and distributed anaerobic digestion systems, including sustainable food waste collection and conversion into net-negative carbon bioenergy, organic biofertilizer and fresh healthy food. | Implementation: $150,000 |
|
GenUnity |
Design the Environmental Justice Community Leadership Program, which will leverage a proven program model in partnership with up to 25 environmental justice community organizations to build a community of civic leaders advancing environmental justice in their communities and institutions. | ICB: $25,000 |
|
GenUnity, Inc. |
Pilot the Environmental Justice Community Leadership Program, which will train 50 multi-racial, cross-class, intergenerational leaders/fellows across Greater Boston to help residents secure equitable and sustainable environmental justice climate solutions. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| 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 |
| HEET | Expand Community Gas to Geo, a project focused on responding to Environmental Justice (EJ) community interest in geothermal networks and addressing equity of access and knowledge early in the deployment of geothermal, with a goal of working with at least 15 EJ communities and establishing a knowledge sharing system between them. | Implementation: $115,301 |
| 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 |
|
Just a Start |
Pilot an innovative solar ownership model across Just a Start's affordable housing portfolio in the Metro North region, to establish internal Power Purchase Agreements, apply for and receive Investment Tax Credits with Environmental Justice (EJ) adders for affordable multifamily housing, and coordinate the purchase and install of approximately 300 kW DC of solar PV throughout the portfolio. | Implementation: $150,000 |
|
MassEnergize |
Expand the community engagement capacity of Fairmount Indigo Collaborative and Vineyard Power by conducting community surveys and focus group research, translating engagement materials into Spanish and Portuguese, and test community engagement platforms and social media campaigns along the Fairmount Line and in Martha's Vineyard. | ICB: $25,000 |
| Mill Cities Community Investments | IMPL: 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 |
IMPL: 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 |
|
PowerOptions |
Launch a program to fund cooperatively owned clean energy projects hosted by non-profits, with a goal to develop 1-2 pilot projects for two participating non-profits and re-distribute the benefits to low- and moderate-income community members. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| 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 |
IMPL: 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 |
|
Roxbury Community College |
Convene the Climate & Environmental Justice Coalition (CEJC) - a group comprised of climate justice advocates, subject matter experts, business owners, community leaders, and educators - meetings and manage activities to develop a comprehensive Environmental Justice plan, conduct outreach to marginalized communities and business owners; and apply to additional funding opportunities. |
ICB: $50,000 |
| 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 |
|
Wentworth Institute of Technology |
Conduct microgrid feasibility study and community outreach focused on enhancing grid resiliency and reliability in the Colleges of the Fenway, Mission Hill, and Fenway areas of Boston. | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Action for Equity, Inc Partners: Prophetic Resistance Boston, I Have A Future |
Increase access to Mass Save job opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color residents, particularly those with Criminal Offender Record Information (CORIs), living in EJ communities in Boston, and for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) employers to grow their businesses with a focus on increasing opportunities for returning citizens and those in priority groups. | Implementation: $150,000 |
| 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 |
| Energy for the Common Good | Further develop the Generation Fusion clean energy educational program (initially piloted in Schenectady NY) and implement it in school districts in Massachusetts, with a goal to spur immediate short-term benefits to priority groups as well as long-term career and environmental benefits. | ICB: $50,000 |
| 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 |
| La Colaborativa | Design and implement a pilot community outreach and retrofit program in Chelsea focused on prioritizing retrofits in aging housing stock for vulnerable households with underlying health conditions. | ICB: $50,000 |
| 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 |
| Thomas M. Menino YMCA Partners: Transform Power Systems, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Boston Professionals |
Launch an energy, resiliency and sustainability hub to provide young people, adults, and seniors with accessible training, energy literacy, and opportunities for advocacy. | Implementation: $131,406 |
| 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.