Baker-Polito Administration to Increase Affordable Access to Clean and Efficient Energy

FRAMINGHAM, MA - The Baker-Polito Administration this week announced the launch of a new initiative and $15 million in funding to help low- and moderate-income Massachusetts residents access cost-saving, clean and efficient energy technologies.

The Affordable Access to Clean and Efficient Energy Initiative will focus on coordinating the agencies that serve the energy and housing needs of the Commonwealth’s low- and moderate-income residents and identify the most effective strategies to direct funding.

The initiative will include an inter-secretariat working group and a $15 million commitment for clean energy programs to expand opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.

“Everyone in Massachusetts should have affordable access to the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “The working group will ensure that we have streamlined strategies for broadening the availability of clean energy through existing and new programs.”

“This initiative will increase the collaboration of state and local agencies and connect a variety of cost-saving resources with those who need them most,”said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Helping all Massachusetts families afford clean and efficient energy technologies will allow them to save money, heat more effectively and improve their environment.”

The inter-secretariat working group will review the barriers to clean energy investment for the state’s low- and moderate-income residents and suggest improvements in policies and programs to increase their impact.

Clean energy programs through the initiative will be funded by a $10 million commitment from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and $5 million from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC).

These programs will help address challenges related to high-cost, high-emissions heating fuels, complex financing, and expensive up-front costs of clean energy projects.

Massachusetts’ energy efficiency programs have delivered building improvements and high efficiency lighting and appliances to low income residents for decades.

During the next three years, new initiatives that target moderate-income households, renters and multi-family assisted housing will be implemented through Mass Save®, a utility-led program that provides a wide range of energy efficiency services to help residents and businesses manage energy use and related costs.

This initiative will build on the foundation of the energy efficiency plans, developed through the work done by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council, the Program Administrators of Mass Save®, the Low Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN), DOER, DHCD and organizations that finance and support low- and moderate-income housing.