On June 21, 2025, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey unveiled a landmark $50 million initiative designed to place the power of clean energy directly in the hands of underserved communities. The newly launched Equitable Climate Access Grant seeks to accelerate rooftop solar installations, energy-efficiency upgrades, and workforce development in low-income and environmental justice areas across the state.
The initiative arrives just one day after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC v. EPA, which affirmed federal authority to support state climate actions, including zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandates. Together, these developments signal a coordinated state-federal push to ensure that the energy transition is not only technologically ambitious but socially inclusive.
“We’re proud to make this investment where it matters most—where communities have historically faced environmental burdens and barriers to energy innovation,” said Governor Healey during the announcement. “This grant is about ensuring everyone has access to the benefits of clean energy—not just those who can already afford it.”
The $50 million fund, which will roll out starting in August 2025, is structured around a lottery-based distribution system. Priority will be given to applicants from historically underserved ZIP codes, particularly those identified under the state’s environmental justice mapping criteria. Eligible projects include solar panel installations on community centers, building electrification rebates for residents transitioning from heating oil, and retrofitting older homes for energy efficiency.
Program director Angela Rivera emphasized that this is not a contractor-driven initiative, but rather one centered on community ownership and leadership. “We want communities, not contractors, to lead their own clean energy transitions,” Rivera said. “That means equipping residents with the skills, knowledge, and institutional support to design, implement, and maintain local energy systems.”
A core feature of the program is its workforce development component, projected to create over 2,000 paid green-jobs internships for youth and adults by mid-2027. These positions will include solar installation training, home energy auditing, HVAC electrification, and public outreach roles, with a focus on building durable skills in neighborhoods that have been disproportionately affected by pollution and economic marginalization.
The grant also addresses intergenerational equity, with specific provisions encouraging school partnerships, environmental curriculum development, and youth-led energy design projects. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources will coordinate the rollout, working in tandem with local nonprofits, community development corporations, and municipal housing agencies.
Environmental justice advocates across the state welcomed the announcement, calling it a model for inclusive climate policy. “Too often, clean energy investments go to those who need them the least,” said Terrence Hall, policy analyst at the Boston-based Green Futures Coalition. “This is what real climate justice looks like—meeting people where they are and giving them the tools to lead.”
Massachusetts has long positioned itself as a leader in climate policy, having committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But a 2023 state audit found that nearly 60% of clean energy subsidies over the previous decade went to higher-income households, underscoring the urgency of corrective measures like the Equitable Climate Access Grant.
The program also aligns with federal goals under the Justice40 initiative, which aims to deliver at least 40% of the benefits from climate and clean energy spending to disadvantaged communities. Massachusetts officials say the new grant could serve as a blueprint for other states looking to pair infrastructure investment with social equity.
The rollout will occur in two phases: an initial $25 million disbursed between August 2025 and June 2026, followed by a second $25 million phase concluding by mid-2027. State officials plan to conduct annual impact assessments to track job creation, emissions reductions, and community satisfaction.
Advocates stress that while the grant is a major step forward, long-term support is essential. “One-off investments are great, but we also need to build sustainable public institutions that continue to deliver equity-driven energy access,” said Rivera. “We’re laying the groundwork—but we want it to last.”
With the combined momentum of a Supreme Court decision reaffirming state-federal collaboration and Massachusetts’ targeted approach to clean energy equity, the Equitable Climate Access Grant stands as a promising new chapter in climate action—one rooted in fairness, community voice, and shared prosperity.
