March 31, 2025

This month, we are excited to share an update on the new Mass Save 2025-2027 Three-Year Plan, which will determine how ratepayer funding will be used for energy efficiency and decarbonization work in homes and businesses. At the end of February, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) approved the plan the utilities originally submitted, with some changes. Our new blog post provides a summary of the DPU ruling and what you can expect Mass Save offerings to look like in the next three years.

We also highlight the start of our next Accelerating Climate Resilience Grant cycle, an opportunity to shape the Greater Boston Climate Action Plan, and more!

Final Chance to Take the Greater Boston Climate Action Plan Survey!

MAPC is developing the Greater Boston Climate Action Plan, which will be a roadmap for our region to equitably and rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next ten years. The plan focuses on strategies to address emissions from buildings, electricity generation, transportation, agriculture and working lands and waste and materials management.

We want to learn what is most important to you and your community through this survey. The findings will shape actions that our municipalities and region can take to reduce emissions and improve quality of life. Please fill out the survey by Tuesday, April 1.

MAPC Awards More Than $440K to 31 Local Projects

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) recently awarded more than $440,000 to 31 municipal and regional projects in the region through MAPC’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP). MAPC offers technical assistance grants each year that help advance the goals identified in Greater Boston’s regional land use and policy plan, MetroCommon2050. Funded climate-related projects include: the development of a North Suffolk Schools Zero Carbon Action Strategy, supporting the Metro Mayors Climate Preparedness Task Force, implementation of the Malden Climate Action Plan, and the creation of a municipal parking lot solar canopy guide for Needham. 

Webinar: Unlocking Savings with the Energy Saver Home Loan Program

On Wednesday, April 16 from 7 - 8 pm, Climate Resilient Solutions is hosting a live information session to explore the benefits of the new Energy Saver Home Loan Program, a program of the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank. The webinar will provide an overview of the application process, eligibility requirements, and the energy-efficient upgrades this program can help finance. Register for the session.

You can also watch the recording of a previous webinar, “Energy Saver Home Loan Program: Affordable Financing for Energy Upgrades,” which provided an overview of the Energy Saver Home Loan program for municipalities and how to promote this opportunity within your community. 

Clean Energy and Environment Legacy Transition Initiative

The Clean Energy and Environment Legacy Transition (CELT) Initiative is a partnership between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Boston University. CELT works to collect and curate data for local decision making on clean energy projects and is hosting its first data workshop for Massachusetts municipalities virtually on Thursday, April 10 at 1:30 pm. "Powering Massachusetts Forward: A workshop for MA municipal leaders" will introduce municipalities to the CELT Energy Transition Explorer and its applications. This will include how cities and towns can obtain accessible data for decision making, as well as an interactive discussion to understand the data needs of municipalities. Register.

Public Hearings on Electric Vehicle Charging in Massachusetts

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council (EVICC) is developing its Second Assessment, which is due to the legislature by Monday, August 11, 2025. The Second Assessment will provide an evaluation of the Commonwealth's EV charging network and EV charging deployment strategies, as well as a comprehensive roadmap for how Massachusetts plans to support the deployment of the necessary EV chargers to meet its emissions reduction requirements and transportation goals. To inform the development of its Second Assessment, EVICC is holding three additional public hearings across the Commonwealth.

• Monday, March 31, 2025, 6 - 8 pm: Blackstone River Valley Heritage Center (3 Paul Clancy Way, Worcester, MA 01607
• Thursday, April 3, 2025, 6-8 pm: Holyoke Community College, Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development, Rooms KC301 and KC303 (303 Homestead Ave, Holyoke, MA 01040 or virtual)
• Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 1-3 pm: Massachusetts Department of Transportation (10 Park Plaza, 2nd Floor, MassDOT Board Room, Boston, MA 02116, or virtual)

Free Online Course for Electric Vehicles & Charging Infrastructure: Procurement Strategies Under 30B and Statewide Contracts

The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General is hosting three free online courses on procurement strategies for Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure under 30B and Statewide Contracts. The courses will take place from 10 - 11:30 am on Friday, April 4; Thursday, May 15, and Tuesday, June 17. Learn more and register.

New Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Electric Vehicle Website

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) launched a dedicated webpage to help Massachusetts residents find relevant information about electric vehicles. This resource provides information on operating costs by vehicle type, charging station information, available rebates and incentives, information about a new call center to answer electric vehicle-related questions and more. Explore the webpage.

Decarbonizing Communities Conference

On Wednesday, April 9, PowerOptions and Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) are hosting Decarbonizing Communities 2025 at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI. Targeted towards New England cities and towns and partners, this one-day workshop will include presentations about successful energy efficiency, electrification, and decarbonization projects and funding opportunities and technical solutions as well as interactive sessions. Massachusetts municipalities can register at a discounted rate of $45 using the code muni2025. If the registration poses a barrier, please email Liam Sullivan to learn more about getting a waiver. Learn more about the workshop and register.

MassEnergize Community Climate Leaders Conference 2025

Registration is open for the 2025 Community Climate Leaders Annual Conference, which will feature guest speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities. The conference will feature a plenary session by Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer and keynote by Assistant Secretary of the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity Crystal Johnson. Workshops will focus on topics such as energy coaching programs, youth climate action and education, Mass Save’s recently approved Three-Year Plan, and more. Community organizers, municipal sustainability officers, community climate leaders, climate funders, university students and faculty in climate and sustainability departments, and others working on local climate action and GHG emissions reductions strategies are invited to attend.

The conference will take place at Bentley University in Waltham, MA, on Wednesday, April 30. Register and learn about the schedule.

Credit: MassEnergize.

Webinar: Healthy School Building Retrofits and Leveraging Grant Dollars

On Tuesday, April 8 from 10 - 11:30 am, the Massachusetts Asthma Action Partnership (MAAP) is hosting a webinar titled “Healthy School Building Retrofits & Leveraging Grant Dollars.” The webinar will focus on “Building on HEAL (Healthy Environments Advance Learning),” an Environmental Protection Agency-funded project of MAAP that supports Massachusetts schools in creating healthier learning environments, particularly in communities most impacted by environmental health challenges. This session will explore practical strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of schools while enhancing indoor air quality, improving energy efficiency, and leveraging available grants for critical upgrades. Speakers include Jillian Wilson-Martin, Director of Sustainability at the City of Natick; Dr. Ben Weil, Interim Director at the Climate Action and Project Administration Department for the City of Northampton; and Meg Howard, Program Director at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Register to join the webinar.

Webinar: Local Citizen Academies

On Wednesday, April 9 at 12 pm the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) is hosting a webinar covering strategies to help municipal leaders launch and run a citizen’s academy. Citizen academies are educational programs designed to help residents gain a better understanding of the daily operations of local government. Pittsfield Administrative Services Director Catherine VanBramer, Danvers Assistant Town Manager and Communications Director Jen Breaker, and Barnstable Town Manager Mark Ells will share insights from their experiences running academies in their communities. Registration is open to MMA members which includes elected officials and municipal employees from MMA member communities across the state.

Register to attend the webinar.

Now Open! Submit Your Expression of Interest for the Accelerating Climate Resilience Grants (with Expanded Eligibility) 

Ahead of the Invitation for Proposals later this spring, MAPC is accepting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for its Accelerating Climate Resilience Grant (ACR) Program. Interested applicants should submit an EOI by Wednesday, April 9 and schedule a time before April 14 to meet with the ACR team.

This year, for the first time, MAPC will be accepting applications from both the 101 municipalities in the MAPC region and entities and/or organizations that work in and serve the people of the MAPC region. In addition to municipalities, eligible lead organizations are defined as local 501(c)(3) community-based organizations, tribes, and Indigenous communities. Community-based organizations without 501(c)(3) status are encouraged to partner with their municipality to submit an application.

Through the ACR program, MAPC seeks to help municipalities and community partners in the Metro Boston region implement strategies that protect people, places, and communities from the impacts of climate change and advance climate equity, regional coordination, and social cohesion. The EOI and meeting the project team are a great opportunity to brainstorm project ideas and learn how projects can best align with the ACR program priorities.

For the most comprehensive feedback, MAPC recommends submitting EOIs early. MAPC will be reviewing EOIs on a rolling basis. Submission of an EOI for a project is not mandatory in order to submit an application but is encouraged. The EOI serves as a resource but does not guarantee final selection.

Environmental Protection Agency Thriving Communities Grants

Funded through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the grant program will award $48 million to community-based organizations, environmental justice organizations, nonprofits, federally and state recognized Tribal governments, and other groups representing "underserved, urban, rural, Indigenous, remote, and capacity-constrained communities." The EPA selected a coalition of organizations (including Health Resources in Action, Alternatives for Community & Environment, and New England Grassroots Environment Fund) to serve as the grantmakers. Funding is available for assessment, planning, and implementation projects that aim to "address past, current, and future environmental health and justice challenges, and specifically the legacies of disinvestment and injustice." Learn more about eligibility and project types.

The second round of grants opens on Wednesday, April 18.

Decarbonization Funding Opportunity for Massachusetts Multifamily Affordable Housing

The Climate Ready Housing Program administered by Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) and MassHousing on behalf of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), is accepting applications for projects that accelerate and support the decarbonization of existing affordable multifamily housing projects. 2025 funding ($16 million) will be leveraged competitively to support 10-15 highly rated projects that represent achievable and replicable approaches to achieving very low carbon emissions. Submissions will be competitively evaluated, and eligible projects may apply under either of the following pathways:

• Deep Energy Retrofits: a comprehensive scope of improvements such as extensive building envelope upgrades, electrification of building systems, maximization of on-site renewable energy production, and embodied carbon reduction – resulting in significant energy savings (50%+) and carbon emissions reductions.
• Zero Carbon Emissions Over Time: upcoming building renovation that incorporates thoughtful and detailed planning to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Pre-applications will be accepted through Friday, April 11, 2025

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grants

Starting Tuesday, April 15, MassDEP is accepting applications for its Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grants Program, which provides $3000-$10,000 for projects that reduce waste through reuse, repair, donation, sharing, and/or rescue. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, businesses, schools and colleges, regional authorities and municipalities. To learn more, read the grant guidelines and join an informational webinar on Tuesday, April 1. Apply by Thursday, May 15.

Massachusetts School Building Authority's Accelerated Repair Program

The Massachusetts School Building Authority has opened the 2024 Statement of Interest Period for its Accelerated Repair Program and the Core Program. These programs provide funding for school building construction, additions, and/or renovation repairs. The Accelerated Repair Program is intended for roofs, windows/doors, and heat pump conversions in existing school facilities. The Core Program is intended for new construction, additions, and/or renovation projects. The deadline for submitting Statement of Interest for the Accelerated Repair Program and the Core Program are Friday, March 21 and Friday, April 11 respectively. 

Solar Upgrading Nonprofits

Resonant Energy is partnering with the Providers’ Council to support nonprofit service providers across Massachusetts as they explore solar as a means of reducing their operating costs and contributing to a clean environment for their constituents. The benefits of the program include no-cost solar feasibility and financial analysis, stipends to cover staff time spent exploring solar (up to $7,500, depending on portfolio size), and free grant writing assistance. Applications for the first phase will be accepted through Monday, June 30, 2025. Learn more.