EmPower Massachusetts implementation grants
Grants help community projects expand clean-energy access and make energy more affordable for underserved Massachusetts populations.
Ta możliwość jest obecnie dostępna po angielsku.
Use this grant to put an innovative community clean-energy project into practice, rather than develop an early idea. Projects must exclusively serve the programme’s Priority Groups. These grants are expected to be used within three years.
Eligible spending includes staff time, community engagement and participant payments, translation, outreach, technical support and professional services. Equipment and installation, including grants to residents for installations, may use no more than 25% of the requested EmPower grant. This is a limit on the grant allocation, not 25% of the whole project’s cost.
FY26 awards can be up to $150,000, with lower requests encouraged. Funding can supplement other grants, incentives or investments. A limited advance may be available at contract signing; remaining payments depend on agreed deliverables.
The grant agreement prohibits charging costs incurred before its effective date. Awardees must keep financial records for seven years after final payment, maintain appropriate insurance, obtain written consent before subcontracting, and participate in check-ins, a final report and debrief. Improperly used funding must be refunded after an audit demand. Grant funds cannot support the lobbying activities specified in the agreement.
Eligibility
Your project must serve Massachusetts Priority Groups: environmental justice populations, primarily residential renters, or people disproportionately affected by COVID-19, fossil-fuel energy or environmental hazards. MassCEC can consider other groups through its programme team.
An environmental justice population is a neighbourhood meeting at least one of these tests: median household income no more than 65% of the state median; minority population at least 40%; at least 25% of households lack English proficiency; or minority population at least 25% with municipal median household income no more than 150% of the state median. A legally designated part of a neighbourhood can also qualify. Energy burden means the share of gross household income spent on energy costs.
- Community-based organizations with a history of supporting these groups can lead without a partner. They need not be incorporated nonprofits; groups unable to hire staff or receive funds can consider partnering with a fiscal agent, an organization that can contract with MassCEC and receive the grant funds. Fiscal-agent fees and indirect costs together are capped at 10% of the proposed budget.
- Federally Recognized and State-Acknowledged Tribes can lead without a required community partner.
- Other nonprofits, individuals, public entities (including municipalities and regional planning agencies), and for-profit entities must partner with at least one nonprofit community-based organization. One lead applicant must be identified for joint applications.
Applicants must have a history of working or living within, or engaging with, at least one Priority Group. Clean-energy experience is generally not required. Partners carrying out the clean-energy work must demonstrate clean-energy experience, and installers and contractors must meet the relevant industry and state standards. Business entities must be registered to do business in Massachusetts. The grant agreement also requires registration and good standing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth where applicable.
You may also apply for the separate Innovation & Capacity Building grant, but the applications must concern different projects and demonstrate capacity to deliver both concurrently.
How to apply
- Status
- zamknięte
- Otwiera się
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- Warunki naboru
- FY26 Implementation application review group.[^c17][^c18]
The FY26 application round is closed. Check MassCEC’s EmPower Massachusetts page for a new round and its application materials.
For FY26, applicants first reviewed both grant RFPs. Workforce-development proposals required discussion with MassCEC about the best programme fit. Applicants proposing community education, outreach or campaigns to encourage clean-energy adoption could also be required to discuss their project with MassCEC. Optional office hours, an idea discussion and a draft application review were available.
Applicants completed the Implementation signature and acceptance form and application form, confirming that they had reviewed the template grant agreement. Both applicant and fiscal agent signed where a fiscal agent was needed. They submitted the Word forms to empower@masscec.com with “Empower FY26 Implementation Grant Application – Your Lead Applicant Organization Name” as the subject, or used the online application and uploaded the signature form. The two submission groups closed on 23 October 2025 and 26 March 2026.
MassCEC can discuss alternative application formats for computer, internet, software, language or writing barriers; contact empower@masscec.com or 617-315-9367. Do not send confidential or sensitive information in response to the RFP.