Equitable Access to Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency

Introduction
Massachusetts has made real strides to develop clean energy and efficiency upgrades for residents. However, there are several challenges to overcome to deliver these benefits to low- and moderate-income households.

Massachusetts has high construction costs. Because affordable rents are established at the federal level, constructing new affordable housing requires significant subsidization of development to recoup these costs.
clean energy and energy efficiency measures are dependent on a project’s funding source. If the project is publicly funded, the project will be limited by the requirements and priorities set by the funding source. If the project is privately funded, the funder will need to approve the development plan. Often new or less familiar technology or strategies are harder to fund.
Most affordable housing in Massachusetts is “naturally occurring” affordable housing which is simply private housing with an affordable rent. Naturally occurring affordable housing is harder to monitor, control, and regulate than publicly owned or publicly subsidized affordable housing.
Many older buildings have code violations or hazardous materials and conditions that have to be addressed before efficiency improvements can be made adding significantly to the overall project cost.
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center recently launched a website for residents to help plan your transition from carbon-intensive home systems to clean energy technologies (how to reduce your contribution to the climate crisis as you switch to clean, safe, sustainable energy). Click here to make your commitment and to access resources and information. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call or email Catherine Ratte, 413/285-1174 or cratte@pvpc.org

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources has developed the Affordable Access to Clean and Efficient Energy (AACEE) initiative to address these challenges. PVPC has been tasked through the Affordable Access to Regional Coordination (AARC) arm of this initiative provide resources and information to our partner municipalities and community organizations to help low and moderate income residents access cost-saving, clean, and efficient energy technologies.

Host information sessions and trainings with municipalities and their community partners about program opportunities which they can promote
Convene stakeholders to develop outreach strategies to reach low-income homeowners, renters, and landlords to increase clean energy program uptake
Integrate clean energy into affordable housing planning work and programs with communities
Provide feedback to DOER and MassCEC about program outreach and uptake
Concierge services - provide services to facilitate the installation of energy efficiency or clean energy technologies by low income residents or low income or affordable housing owners or developers.

To address these challenges, PVPC has convened a stakeholder group to develop outreach strategies to reach low-income homeowners, renters, and landlords to increase clean energy program uptake. This group includes:

Housing authorities from the cities of Chicopee, Holyoke, Springfield, Northampton, and Westfield
Regional Community Action Programs (CAPs)
City staff from sustainability and housing offices
Non-profit and for-profit housing developers
Housing advocacy groups
Sustainability professionals from the UMass Clean Energy Extension and Department of Environmental Conservation

PVPC will also be taking the following further actions:

Host information sessions and trainings with municipalities and their community partners about program opportunities which they can promote
Integrate clean energy into affordable housing planning work and programs with communities
Concierge services - provide services to facilitate the installation of energy efficiency or clean energy technologies by low income residents or low income or affordable housing owners or developers.
Provide feedback to DOER and MassCEC about program outreach and uptake

Click here for more information on available clean energy programs for residential customers (including both renters and property owners) in the Commonwealth.

Questions?
For information about equitable access to renewable energy, please contact Catherine Ratté, Principal Planner/Section Manager

Take Action Subscribe to our newsletter	Learn More Database of Energy Efficiency Programs	Explore Other Useful Organizations, Resources, and Guides
PVPC is releasing a regular newsletter to share upcoming webinars and trainings. Learn strategies fordelivering renewable and energyefficiency benefits to your communities!	There are many programs to alleviate energy costs and subsidize the delivery of renewable energy and efficiency upgrades in Massachusetts. Check out this site for a complete list.	Many organizations have produced guidelines for delivering renewable energy and efficiency upgrades for lower income populations. We have assembled some of them here.

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Equitable Access to Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency

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