Press Release: 6/18/2025
Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $50 Million in Funding to Cut Long-Term Energy Costs Across State Government
Announcement made during celebration of the completion of a rooftop solar system at the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
6/17/2025
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Lauren Diggin, External Affairs Manager
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Email Lauren Diggin, External Affairs Manager at lauren.diggin@mass.gov
SPRINGFIELD — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the availability of $50 million in grant funding for state entities to implement solar and electrification projects. The announcement was made during a ribbon-cutting celebration for the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority’s (PVTA) recently completed rooftop solar system at its Bus Operations & Maintenance Facility.
“Our administration wants to bring on new energy sources of all types to lower costs for families and businesses,” said Governor Healey. “This funding will help our public colleges and agencies cut their long-term energy costs – just like Pioneer Valley Transit Authority did – which will help them pass these cost savings onto their students and customers. At the same time, we will also bring new, locally-produced energy online.”
“As we work to reduce energy costs for everyone in Massachusetts, we are taking an all of the above strategy to bring in new energy, which will also help us meet future demand,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Pioneer Valley Transit Authority’s new solar and energy storage systems will reduce their energy bills and peak demand, while making Springfield a heathier place to live. This grant funding will help other state entities across Massachusetts do the same.”
Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony attended the ceremony to celebrate the project, which is expected to save about $2 million over the life of the system and includes an energy storage system to offset peak demand.
“Congratulations to Pioneer Valley Transit Authority on their rooftop solar and energy storage system, which will save more than $2 million in energy costs over the life of the system,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “This project shows how adding more homegrown energy in Massachusetts can lower energy costs in an impactful way while driving economic development and creating healthier communities.”
“Pioneer Valley Transit Authority’s commitment to clean energy and sustainability embodies what our Leading By Example program is about,” said DOER Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. “PVTA will shrink its energy costs with solar and energy storage systems, paired with its new energy efficient facility. The $50 million in funding will help other state facilities implement similar renewable energy and electrification projects to reduce long-term costs and emissions.”
PVTA’s 1,036-kW DC system is expected to provide over $100,000 in annual energy savings and generate 1,684 megawatt hours of clean electricity in its first year, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 250 homes. PVTA will use 80% of the power generated onsite. The energy storage system will be scheduled to dispatch daily to offset peak demand, adding to the cost savings the solar system alone would provide.
“This solar system will allow PVTA to lower its operational costs and to contribute to a cleaner and more resilient future for our region,” said PVTA Acting Chair, J.M. Sorrell. “The investment from Solect and the support from DOER will make a significant difference to the operations of the transit system, benefiting individuals who rely on it for transportation.”
New Leading By Example Grant Funding
The $50 million in grant funding is for programs that will help Massachusetts add solar at state sites, help state government transition away from expensive, volatile fossil fuels, and lower the costs of government by reducing energy bills. The funding will be available across three DOER Leading By Example Grant Programs: Solar-Decarbonization Grants, Decarbonization Implementation Grants, and Restoration Grants for Solar.
The $25 million Solar-Decarbonization Grant program provides enhanced incentives for new state solar deployment, as well as for battery energy storage, electric vehicle charging, and decarbonization efforts proposed for the same sites. The program will help fund up to 21 megawatts of solar at state states and generate up to 525,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy over the next 20 years. This program will also help fund projects at state sites that will result in energy savings for facilities and reduced emissions.
The $20 million in Decarbonization Implementation Grant Program will provide enhanced incentives for large-scale decarbonization efforts at state sites. Sites with dedicated decarbonization plans and projects that integrate with systems such as onsite solar and/or onsite battery energy storage to provide additional grid and financial benefits will be given preference. The program is expected to help fund up to 5 large-scale decarbonization projects at state sites that will target phasing out fossil fuel use.
The $5 million Restoration Grant for Solar & Decarbonized Systems Program will support existing solar and decarbonized systems at state facilities, some of which were installed over a decade ago, through repair or replacement of critical components. These restoration projects will help Massachusetts state government extend the life of these systems for multiple years, resulting in continued energy savings while also supporting Commonwealth efforts to achieve long-term clean energy, decarbonization, and grid intermittency goals.
DOER’s Leading By Example Program has awarded more than $10 million to 19 state entities to help them install 28 solar systems across state owned rooftops and parking lots. To date, state entities have installed more than 34 megawatts of solar and 4.8 megawatts of battery energy storage, which together produce an estimated 40 million kilowatt hours of renewable electricity each year. Information about the Solar-Decarbonization and Restoration Grant for Solar & Decarbonized Systems Programs, including how to apply, can be found on the program webpages. The Decarbonization Implementation Grant Program is expected to open for applications this month. For more information, visit the Leading By Example Program website.