Empower Awardees & Projects

Blog Posts

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:

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

Education & Outreach; Energy Coaching

Net-Zero Grid; Energy Democracy

Workforce Development & Formal Education

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
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 acccess or reduction of energy burden.	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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

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 Merrmimack 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
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
Eastie Farm	Conduct a bi-lingual education campaign in East Boston focused on clean energy initatives, 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 energy career and workforce opportunities.	Implementation: $149,940
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 an 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 cricial to the project.	Implementation: $150,000
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
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
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

Grove Hall Main Streets	Receive technical assistance and feasibility studies for flat roofs in the Grove Hall Neighborhood of Dorchester, to determine opportunities for the for solar PV, green or white roofs, and green infrastructure.	ICB: $25,000
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
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
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

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
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 portofolio in Springfield.	Implementation: $150,000
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
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

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 Coordinatorto 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
Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts	Conduct community engagement in several Boston neighborhoods cn 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
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
MVS Welding LLC Partners: Kate Will and Northeast Clean Energy Council	Creating a stakeholder landscape assessment for environmental justice and unerrepresented population participation in an offshore wind industry secondary steel package.	ICB: $25,000
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

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.

Empower Awardees & Projects

Blog Posts

Project Spotlights

Program Updates

Program Overview

Awardees

Decarbonization & Retrofit Planning; Technical Assistance Models

Education & Outreach Campaigns; Energy Coaching

Net-Zero Grid; Energy Democracy

Workforce Development & Formal Education

Story Map