EmPower Massachusetts Implementation Grants is sponsored by Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). Provides funding to implement community-based programs or projects that increase access to clean energy benefits and/or reduce energy burden on underserved populations.

EmPower Massachusetts | MassCEC MassCEC / High Performance Buildings / Funding / EmPower The Challenge: Prioritize Underserved Populations in our Clean Energy Future Low-income Massachusetts households spend a disproportionately high percentage of their income on energy, while renters, low-income, and non-English-speaking households are less likely to use energy efficiency incentives.

Similarly, solar adoption lags for renters and minority communities. And yet, all residents need and deserve to be part of our collective clean energy future. EmPower Massachusetts offers multiple stages of investment in communities and community-based organizations so that they can explore, develop, and implement program models or projects that provide access to the benefits of clean energy for previously underserved populations.

This MassCEC program crowd-sources new and innovative ideas, then helps put them into action. EmPower offers funding to meet the following goals: Build organizational capacity & explore innovative solutions ($5,000 to $50,000 grants) Implement solutions ($50,000 to $150,000 grants) Not sure where to begin? Start with this list of recommendations and the associated table of contents to learn more!

Review program goals (above) Review EmPower Grant Opportunities & Funding Schedule Watch the Program Overview Video under Workshops, Office Hours, and Videos. Latest video coming soon! Get connected!

To register for virtual office hours visit Workshops, Office Hours, & Videos; to set up a call or join our Slack channel, visit our Resources and Support Section New to clean energy? Review our Clean Energy 101 Primer and our additional Resources and Support Check out what other awardees are doing. View the Awardee Map, read our EmPower Blog, or see our expanded Awardees & Projects page.

EmPower Grant Opportunities Workshops, Office Hours, & Videos EmPower Grant Opportunities Innovation and Capacity-Building Grants Innovation and Capacity Building Grants are "seed" funding for the exploration of innovative ideas for potential program models or projects, including the opportunity to build community or organizational capacity.

Among other purposes, t his funding could be used for staff time devoted to program concept development or refinement technical studies needed to move projects forward costs for a grant-writer, accountant, lawyer, or other professional services community engagement expenses Learn more about capacity-building from the National Council on Non-Profits Grant range: $5,000-$25,000 (up to $50,000 in some cases) Implementation grants provide funding to implement community-based programs or projects that increase the access to the benefits of clean energy to and/or reduce energy burden on previously underserved population priority groups.

Applications should identify specific goals and outcomes for energy access for the targeted priority population.

Grant range: $50,000-$150,000 MassCEC seeks a wide variety of applicants/participants, such as Community-based organizations (CBOs) Federally Recognized and State-Acknowledged Tribes Municipalities (including those with municipal electric departments/companies)* Clean energy installers/implementers* *We require all applicants (except CBO's and Federally Recognized and State-Acknowledged Tribes) to form beneficial partnerships and apply with, with at least one community-based organization (CBO).

For full Program details, please refer to the two Requests for Proposals (RFPs), below. MassCEC will be accepting applications for both grant opportunities through March 26, 2026. Innovation & Capacity Building applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and Implementation applications will be reviewed in two groups.

See the table to the right for more information. Fall 2025 & Spring 2026 Schedule Innovation & Capacity Building Rolling through March 26, 2026 October 23, 2025 and March 26, 2026 Follow Up Questions to Applicants Within a month of application deadline Within a month of application deadline Within 3 months of each deadline Review both RFPs to understand the Program and opportunities.

(Optional but encouraged) Watch our videos, attend applicant office hours, and/or use other informational resources offered. See more information below regarding the resources MassCEC offers potential Applicants. (Optional but encouraged) Contact MassCEC to discuss your idea(s).

Seek input or support via email ( empower@masscec. com ) or attend the EmPower applicant office hours. See more information below on the support MassCEC may be able to offer, including a one-time review of your submission.

(Optional) Submit a draft Application to MassCEC by the relevant Pre-Application Review Deadline listed in Section 7 of the RFP and receive feedback from MassCEC within two weeks. Reach out to MassCEC to indicate and discuss interest in workforce development specific approaches (as described in section 5). This is required so MassCEC can determine the best program match.

Download and complete Attachment 1 for the relevant grant opportunity. If applying via Microsoft document, download and complete Attachment 2. Submit Attachments 1 and 2 by email to the EmPower Mass team at empower@masscec.

com with "FY26 EmPower Mass Innovation and Capacity Building Grant Application - Your Lead Applicant Organization Name" or "FY26 EmPower Mass Implementation Grant Application - Your Lead Applicant Organization Name" in the subject line. If completing the application online, complete your application using Jotform at the links below; at the end, you will be prompted to upload Attachment 1.

Both application formats include confirming review of Attachment 3: EmPower Mass FY26 Template Grant Agreement.

Innovation & Capacity Building Online Application Implementation Online Application EmPower Massachusetts FY26 Implementation Grant RFP Attachment 1 - EmPower Mass FY26 Implementation - Signature and Acceptance Form Document Attachment 2 - EmPower Massachusetts FY26 Implementation Grant Application Form Attachment 3 - EmPower Mass FY26 Template Grant Agreement Innovation & Capacity-Building Grants EmPower Massachusetts FY26 Innovation and Capacity Building Grant RFP Attachment 1 - EmPower Mass FY26 Innovation and Capacity Building - Signature and Acceptance Form Attachment 2 - EmPower Massachusetts FY26 Innovation and Capacity-Building Grant Application Form Attachment 3 - EmPower Mass FY26 Template Grant Agreement A program overview video for FY26 is forthcoming, in the meantime check out the FY24 overview video to gain an understanding of the program.

The forthcoming FY26 video will detail any changes for this current round. Applicant & Grantee Office Hours Applicant Office hours are a resource specifically for those currently exploring or planning on a NEW application to the program, the hours are an opportunity to learn about the program, meet other potential applicants or current grantees, explore and get feedback on your ideas, and even meet potential new partners!

The FY26 program has closed, office hours will resume when a new round of the program is launched. For any immediate questions please contact empower@masscec. com .

Grantee Office hours are a new resource specifically for Grantees/Awardees with a recent award or active project with EmPower, and the sessions provide an opportunity to ask questions about your recent or current award/project, engage with other current grantees, or get general and ongoing support for your current project such as reporting, payments, or changes to your project.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 10:35am-11:05am Tuesday, April 7, 2026 4:00pm-4:30pm Wednesday, April 15, 2026 10:35am-11:05am Wednesday, April 22, 2026 10:35am-11:05am Wednesday, April 29, 2026 10:35am-11:05am Wednesday, May 6, 2026 10:30am-11:00am Tuesday, May 12, 2026 4:00pm-4:30pm Wednesday, May 20, 2026 10:30am-11:00am Tuesday, May 26, 2026 4:00pm-4:30pm Wednesday, June 3, 2026 10:35-11:05am Monday, June 8, 2026 11:00am-11:30am Monday, June 15, 2026 4:00pm-4:30pm Tuesday, June 23, 2026 11:00am – 11:30am We know there are many ways to approach these opportunities and want to ensure you have access to resources that support whichever challenge you are tackling or opportunity you are pursuing.

Grantee Guide on Developing Metrics and Outcomes (source: Barr Foundation) See all EmPower Videos on our YouTube channel: 2021 Videos , 2022 Videos Get connected, stay engaged, ask questions Please contact us at empower@masscec. com with any questions or to set up a call with the EmPower team.

Learn more about clean energy programs and incentives to discover the technology(ies) best suited to your potential program SMART (Solar PV Production Incentive) MassSave ( Clean heating and cooling rebates , HEAT Loan , Connected Solutions , Income Eligible Programs , Enhanced Residential Program - Income Eligible ) MassCEC’s Internship & Technical Trades Programs MassCEC's Workforce Equity Programming LEAN (Low Income Affordability Network) Massachusetts’ Green Communities Designation & Grant Program 2025 Tax Bill Implications for Solar Energy Learn more about Massachusetts Environmental Justice (EJ) policy MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs - Environmental Justice Use the EJ Map viewer to identify locations that meet the 2020 EJ population criteria.

The Map Viewer also contains several different tabs to view maps with additional data to the EJ population criteria, such as Languages Spoken in Massachusetts, or the Legacy of Redlining in Massachusetts.

MA Climate Change Clearinghouse Environmental Justice & Equity toolkit Get inspired by other initiatives and complementary opportunities Mass Save Community First Partnership Program NYSERDA Clean Heating & Cooling Communities Campaigns Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program Transferable Tools Mass Save Community Education Grant Become an Electric Coach with Rewiring America & Abode Energy Management LISC Affordable Housing Decarbonization Hub Explore data to further inform your ideas Chelsea and East Boston Heat Study U.S. Office of State and Community Energy Programs’ Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool Explore the 100+ 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.

Your browser does not support iframes, but you can visit STEAM Ahead: Clean Energy Education for Massachusetts Teens , October 21, 2025 STEAM Ahead brings clean energy education to MA teens through hands-on projects like solar cars and fusion lab tours in EJ communities.

Double Edge Theatre Isn't Just Acting , September 30, 2025 Rural Ashfield theater uses EmPower grants to develop clean energy affordable housing and solar for the town's wastewater plant. Habitat for Humanity's Solar PV Toolkit , April 23, 2025 Habitat Greater Boston created a toolkit helping 14 MA affiliates add solar to affordable homes for low-income families.

Induction Stoves: Empowering Massachusetts Communities, Redefining Cooking , March 25, 2024 EJ communities in Chelsea, Springfield, and Cape Ann learn about induction cooking through workshops and education campaigns. Project Spotlight: Energy Allies' Community-Led Solar Photovoltaics in Boston , March 3, 2023 Community Advisory Board co-develops 200-400 kW community solar in Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roxbury with local hiring focus.

Project Spotlight: Nantucket Revolving Clean Energy Fund , September 13, 2022 Housing Nantucket installed solar on 6 affordable homes; savings fund future clean energy projects for tenants. Project Spotlight: Worcester HEART Partnership's Stakeholder Engagement, Workforce Development, and Retrofit Pilot , August 31, 2022 NAACP-led coalition builds groundwork for triple-decker retrofits, workforce development, and tenant engagement.

Project Spotlight: Solar Technical Assistance Retrofit (STAR) Program - Round II , August 5, 2022 LISC, MACDC, and Resonant Energy provide solar technical assistance to 15 affordable housing developers statewide. Program Update: Establishing Connections and Building Networks , July 22, 2022 MassCEC launches "Cohort Calls" to connect EmPower awardees by focus area for networking and collaboration.

Program Update: Congratulations to Our First Round of Awardees , July 14, 2022 EmPower awards $2. 2M to 32 organizations across MA for community-led clean energy initiatives. Program Overview: Innovating Access to Clean Energy Benefits , July 22, 2021 Introduces EmPower Massachusetts—crowdsourcing community-led clean energy solutions for underserved populations.

Frequently Asked Questions What if my organization does not have experience with clean energy? Experience with clean energy or related topics is not a requirement under the program. We encourage community-based organizations that don’t have this experience to apply to the program.

Please reach out to us so that we can determine what kind of assistance or education we can provide and include these details on future applications. How can I determine if the population I’d like to support through my program idea is a Priority Group population?

The for the FY22 Program (now closed), the following populations were considered population Priority Groups; although these criteria are subject to change, we anticipate they will be the same for the FY23 round. “Environmental Justice Populations” as defined by the Massachusetts Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Environmental Justice Policy. https://www.

mass. gov/service-details/environmental-justice-policy “Environmental Justice (EJ) Population” means a neighborhood where 25 percent of the households have an annual median household income that is equal to or less than 65 percent of the statewide median income, or 25% of its population is Minority or identifies as household that has English Isolation.

“Minority” refers to individuals who identify themselves as Latino/Hispanic, Black/African American, Asian, Indigenous people, and people who otherwise identify as non-white. “Low-income” means median household income at or below 65 percent of the statewide median income for Massachusetts, according to federal census data.

“English isolation” refers to households that are English Language Isolated according to federal census forms, or do not have an adult over the age of 14 who speaks only English or speaks English very well. Renters (primarily residential) Communities or individuals disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, by the fossil-fuel based energy system, or other environmental hazards.

Two possible ways to qualify your population are to review the updated Environmental Justice Map Viewer; or review this updated document which outlines communities and their percentage of EJ census block groups. Your application narrative can explain how you have used these tools or otherwise determined a group's eligibility. Does my non-profit/community-based organization have to have 501c3 status to be considered eligible?

No! Non-profits and other community-based organizations (or individuals) are listed as an eligible type of applicant, but that does not mean your organization needs formal 501c3 status. Potential applicants who do not have the ability to hire staff or receive funds should consider forming a partnership with another group that can act as a fiscal agent.

If you need assistance in finding a fiscal agent, contact MassCEC to see if we can help.

MassCEC / High Performance Buildings / Funding / EmPower School Bus: Advisory Services Program No-Cost Advisory Services Clean Energy Internship Program for Employers High Performance Buildings Renewable Energy Generation $4,320/intern for Fall or Spring session; $8,640/intern for Summer session or for Construction, Installation, and Maintenance Clean Energy Internship Program for Employers High Performance Buildings Renewable Energy Generation $4,320/intern for Fall or Spring session; $8,640/intern for Summer session or for Construction, Installation, and Maintenance Heat Pump and HVAC Training Network Award Potential: Up to $1,200,000 Application Deadline: Strand A: March 18, 2026 Strand B: Rolling, through May 15, 2027 Climate-Critical Workforce Training, Equipment & Infrastructure Grants Career Pathway Training: $800,000 Climate-Critical Upskilling: $600,000 Equipment, Infrastructure and Training Ecosystem Support: $750,000 Capacity for Climate-Critical Educators and Trainers: $400,000 Request for Proposals: Transportation Equity Needs and Barriers Assessment Program Area Clean Transportation, Env.

Justice/DEI Program Type Consulting/Services Award Potential: $300,000 Application Deadline: May 22, 2026