Press Release: 3/12/2026

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $8.7 Million to Support Energy Efficient and Clean Energy Projects

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

3/11/2026

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Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP

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Call Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at 857-274-7522

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Email Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at fabienne.alexis@mass.gov

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $8.7 million in grant funding to support 34 projects that increase energy efficiency and generate renewable energy. The funding is going to municipal water facilities, agricultural and food-producing non-profits and small businesses, working to modernize operations and save energy. 

“These investments are helping turn energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades into real savings for communities and small businesses,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re not only strengthening our climate resiliency but enabling recipients to reinvest locally, all of which build an economically stronger Massachusetts.”  

The Gap Energy Grant Program, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), helps fill the last “gap” in project financing. Recipients can combine these grants with utility incentives and other funding sources to build or install energy efficiency and clean energy projects that might otherwise be delayed or impossible. 

“Gap Energy grants are proof that getting to net zero can happen on the local level,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re helping our cities and towns cut energy costs, giving them the opportunity to reinvest those savings. These grants help our local communities with clean energy projects that are good for the environment and local budgets.” 

The awarded projects are expected to collectively save the grant recipients more than $1.6 million in energy costs every year. They are also expected to generate more than10,691,963 kilowatt hours (kWh) of annual electricity savings — enough to power and heat more than 416 households — and reduce carbon emissions by 2,440 metric tons, the equivalent of removing 569 cars off the road annually. 

“These grants reduce the barrier that often hold local projects back,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “This program shows what is possible when municipal water facilities, small businesses and nonprofits can invest in energy-efficient building upgrades, clean energy installations and energy storage systems. These grants are creating a model that other communities can follow to save money, improve operations and protect the environment.” 

“Whether it’s replacing an inefficient water pump or installing solar panels, these projects cut both energy costs and air pollution,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “Massachusetts communities and small businesses are putting these grants to work to build more self-sufficient and reliable energy sources, while locking in long-term savings.”

These grants are managed by the Clean Energy Results Program, an initiative led by MassDEP, and supported by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Please visit MassDEP’s Massachusetts Gap Energy Grant Program webpage, for more information on the 2026 Gap IV Energy Grants. 

Statements of Support: 

Senator Joan Lovely (D-Salem):

"Thank you to the MassDEP for awarding these funds via the Gap Energy Grant program to support the efficiency goals of these two projects, which will not only reduce pollution but also save money. Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for prioritizing our transition to clean and efficient energy sources through projects like these." 

Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro):

"I’m grateful to MassDEP and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for investing in clean energy and efficiency projects that will directly benefit communities across the Cape & Islands. These Gap Energy Grants will help turn innovative local solutions into reality. Across the Cape and Islands, our communities are grappling with the interconnected challenges of food security, wastewater management, and safeguarding our sole-source aquifer — challenges that are only intensified by the region’s housing crisis. These projects show how clean energy investments can help meet those challenges — supporting local food production, strengthening essential water and wastewater infrastructure, and reducing the energy costs that fall on ratepayers and nonprofits alike. I’m proud to see communities in our region leading with creative, forward-looking solutions that protect both our environment and our local economy." 

State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton): 

"I am thrilled that the Gap Energy Grant Program will fund 34 clean, renewable, and reliable energy projects across the state, including 2 critical municipal water facility projects within my district: the Sudbury Water District project and the Maynard Drinking Water Facility project. I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) for awarding and administering these critical investments that will increase energy efficiency while reducing our reliance on fossil fuels." 

State Senator Paul Mark (D-Peru): 

"Berkshire County has an incredible agricultural community, and we understand the importance of energy efficiency and clean water resources, so it’s great to see our farms and municipalities getting the support we need to invest in the future of our natural resources. Projects like the solar installations at Red Shirt Farm and Greenagers, along with the digester expansion at Pine Island Farm, will help reduce energy costs while continuing the important work these farms do for our local food system and community. I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and MassDEP for supporting practical investments that will help our region remain sustainable and strong." 

Speaker Pro Tempore Kate Hogan (D-Stow): 

"This Gap Energy Grant will help the Town of Maynard with near-term upgrades - installing new energy-efficient pumps at its drinking water facilities - while it lays the groundwork for long-term investments and ensuring that Maynard’s water remains safe, sustainable, and affordable for generations to come. We're grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and MassDEP for administering these funds and promoting energy-efficiency throughout our municipalities." 

State Representative Thomas Moakley (D-Falmouth): 

"I’m proud to see Island Grown Initiative and the Town of Nantucket receiving Gap Energy Grant funding from the Healey-Driscoll Administration to install solar energy systems that will reduce energy costs, cut pollution, and strengthen critical food and water infrastructure across each island."