Through this Request for Proposals (“RFP”), the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (“MassCEC”) is offering Community Engagement Planning Grants.
Donor Name: Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (MassCEC)
State: Massachusetts
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: Ongoing
Size of the Grant: $5,000 and $50,000
Details:
The Community Engagement Planning Grants will provide direct support to community-based organizations, municipalities, or other entities that represent the community interest (“Communities”) to support meaningful community input in the development and deployment of solar energy projects owned by electric and gas distribution companies (“EDCs”).
Program Goals
- Enable informed community engagement in the EDCs’ Section 77 Project design and deployment process on key elements such as project benefits;
- Provide flexible funding for Communities that may be used to conduct and coordinate stakeholder meetings, public meetings, incentives for public participation, etc.; and
- Build capacity of both Communities and EDCs to enable future collaboration in clean energy project design and implementation.
Additionally, through this Solicitation, MassCEC intends to:
- Create a framework for EDCs to ensure robust future community engagement in future solar, storage or other clean energy projects; and
- Enable Communities to build their technical literacy on clean energy projects and processes including DPU engagement and facilitate discussions with diverse stakeholders across the community and with the broader public.
Funding Information
MassCEC anticipates awarding at least five (5) grants of up to $50,000 for a cumulative total of $250,000. Applicants may request any amount of funding between $5,000 and $50,000. MassCEC anticipates that there will be multiple Section 77 Project sites and that funding will be distributed among several sites.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations or a partnership/team that represent the community interest in municipalities with or immediately adjacent to Section 77 Project sites as identified by the EDCs are eligible to apply and are collectively termed “Applicants”. If there are multiple parties that are jointly applying, one party should take on the role of leading the application team (“Lead Applicant”).
- The Lead Applicant will sign Attachment 1, contract with MassCEC if selected, and receive funds from MassCEC. The following entities are eligible to apply:
- Community‐based organizations such as community development corporations (“CDCs”), community action partnerships, neighborhood revitalization organizations, advocacy groups, and other non‐profit organizations;
- Public entities such as municipalities and regional planning agencies; and
- Other entities that represent the community interest.
- Additional eligibility notes:
- Applicants should have a demonstrated history working or living within, and/or engaging with a given Community (associated with a given Project site); and
- Applicants are not required to have experience in clean energy.
For more information, visit MassCEC.