Massachusetts is home to approximately 1,800 public school buildings responsible for 880,000 metric tons of carbon every year. Electrifying and decarbonizing these buildings represents a significant opportunity for the state to reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. While school districts are well-versed in capital planning, they may not have the experience or technical expertise necessary to incorporate energy efficiency, electrification and decarbonization measures into their capital planning projects.
Green School Works was created to help K-12 public schools install and maintain clean energy infrastructure. The state has committed $60 million to Green School Works to date. Funding will go toward both technical assistance and installation/construction.
MassCEC incorporated input from K-12 school building decarbonization stakeholders in the design of the Green School Works Program.
Program Process and Timeline
| Program Component | Timing |
|---|---|
| Stakeholder engagement | Summer/Fall 2024 |
| Request for Qualifications for Technical Assistance Vendors | Qualifications due April 8, 2025* |
| Technical assistance enrollment for schools & districts | TBD (Spring 2025, rolling) |
| Request for Information: ITC bridge loans | TBD (Spring 2025) |
| Implementation grant funding | Proposals due April 30, 2025 |
*MassCEC will consider additional vendors on a rolling basis if they apply with a partner school or district for an eligible project.
Additional Resources
Agencies, Organizations and Programs
Funding for improving school infrastructure
- Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA)
- Mass Save
- MA DOER Climate Leader Communities
- MA DOER Green Communities Designation & Grant Program
- U.S. DOE Renew America's Schools
Advocacy groups
Informational Resources
General
- MA legislation on Section 35: Green School Works
- MA Federal Funds and & Infrastructure Office
- MASC/M.A.S.S. Conference - New funding for improving existing school facilities
Investment tax credit information
Clean energy awareness curriculum
Contact Us
- Please email greenschools@masscec.com with any general inquiries.
- To be notified of program updates, sign up for our Green School Works email list.
- Subscribe to MassCEC’s High Performance Buildings mailing list to be notified of future buildings-related opportunities.