Equitable Energy for Massachusetts
EmPower Massachusetts is a grant program managed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). It focuses on removing barriers for populations that have been historically left out of the clean energy transition.
Project Types
- Outreach & Education: Helping low-income neighbors understand and apply for efficiency programs.
- Pilot Projects: Innovative community-owned solar or heating solutions.
- Capacity Building: Funding staff at local non-profits to manage energy transition projects. Strategic Impact: By targeting the "gap" in standard aid programs, EmPower MA ensure that energy efficiency benefits reach every corner of the state.
What EmPower Massachusetts Funds
EmPower Massachusetts is a Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) program that funds community-led work to bring clean energy benefits to residents who are usually last in line for them: low-income households, renters, English-isolated households, and environmental justice populations. It does not pay for a household's own solar panels or heat pump. It funds the organizations that design, test, and run programs that reach those residents, including community solar access work, efficiency education, and outreach that helps neighbors actually use the incentives that already exist.
The Two Grant Types
Innovation and Capacity Building Grants are seed funding, generally $5,000 to $25,000 and up to $50,000 in some cases. They pay for staff time spent developing a program concept, technical studies needed to move a project forward, community engagement costs, and professional services such as a grant writer, accountant, or lawyer.
Implementation Grants run from $50,000 to $150,000 and fund community-based programs or projects that increase access to clean energy benefits or reduce energy burden for a defined priority population. Applications are expected to name specific goals and measurable outcomes for that population, not general aspirations.
Where the Program Stands Now
The FY26 round is closed. MassCEC accepted applications from August 25, 2025 through March 26, 2026, with Implementation Grant deadlines on October 23, 2025 and March 26, 2026, and Innovation and Capacity Building applications taken on a rolling basis through the same closing date. MassCEC has not announced the next round on its program page, and applicant office hours resume when a new round launches. Organizations planning ahead can still study the FY26 requests for proposals and the published awardee projects on the MassCEC site; the program has supported more than 100 projects in its first two rounds, which gives a realistic picture of what gets funded.
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, federally recognized and state-acknowledged tribes, non-profits, individuals, municipalities (including those with municipal electric departments), clean energy installers and implementers, and financial institutions. With two exceptions, every applicant must partner with at least one community-based organization. Community-based organizations themselves and federally recognized or state-acknowledged tribes may apply without that partnership requirement. In practice, the partnership rule means an installer or municipality with a strong technical idea still needs a community partner with real reach into the target population.
Worked Example (Hypothetical)
Imagine a hypothetical neighborhood non-profit that wants to help renters in triple-decker housing join a community solar project. A $20,000 Innovation and Capacity Building Grant could cover part-time staff coordination, translation of program materials, and a technical review of subscription offers. If the pilot works, the organization could later seek a $120,000 Implementation Grant to run enrollment across several neighborhoods. This example is hypothetical; grant sizes, eligible costs, and deadlines are set by the current request for proposals.
Preparing a Stronger Application
Name the priority population precisely and show how you know its energy burden. Line up the community-based organization partnership before writing, not after. When a live round offers pre-application review or office hours, use them; reviewers cannot fund a strong idea they cannot follow, so budgets that tie dollars to activities read better than round numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does EmPower fund home solar or heat pumps directly? No. It funds organizations running programs that expand access for underserved residents. Households should look to Mass Save and state solar incentives for direct support.
Do I need clean energy experience? No. MassCEC states that clean energy experience is not a requirement, and it encourages community-based organizations without it to apply.
When can I apply? The FY26 round closed on March 26, 2026. Watch the MassCEC program page for the next round announcement.