Metropolitan Area Planning Council
Clean Energy Update
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Dear Reader,
Happy March! Spring in New England is always unpredictable, and this week's weather ranging from frigid temperatures one day to over 60 degrees the next exemplifies that. However, we know that in a few short months we may be experiencing extreme heat and, with that, an increase in heat-related illnesses. Now is the perfect time to prepare! As part of your preparedness toolkit, we encourage you to consider how to protect workers. This month, we wanted to highlight the impacts of climate-driven heat on workers in Massachusetts and efforts at the State and Federal level to improve workplace standards and protections for extreme heat. You can learn more on in our new blog post on www.MAPC.org/planning101.
We also encourage you to come work with us here at MAPC! We are seeking diverse candidates for our Senior Clean Energy and Climate Specialist and Clean Energy and Climate Specialist ll positions. Check out the jobs posted below, share with your networks, and join us!
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Please contact us if you’re interested in learning more about MAPC’s clean energy and climate programs.
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In This Month's Update... |
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Job Opportunities! MAPC Seeking a Senior Clean Energy and Climate Specialist and Clean Energy and Climate Specialist II: Apply Immediately
WEBINAR TODAY! Electric School Bus "Getting on Board" Webinar Series: March 30
WEBINAR TODAY! MassCEC Offers New MWBE Support Grant Program: Webinar March 30, Office Hours March 31 & April 14, Proposals due April 29
EEA Public Hearing on Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030: April 7, 8 and 14
EEA Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program FY23 Funding Round Now Open for Applications: Due May 5
US DOE Launches Updated Solar Power in Your Community Guidebook
DHCD Climate Ready Housing Program Offers Deep Energy Retrofit Funding Opportunity for Massachusetts Multifamily Affordable Housing
Job Opportunity! All in Energy Seeking to Fill Two Positions: Community Programs Director and Bilingual Visual Communications and Marketing Manager
Job Opportunity! Acadia Center Seeking Senior Manager for Energy Efficiency and Building Energy Justice and Energy and Climate Policy Analyst
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Job Opportunity! MAPC Seeking Senior a Clean Energy and Climate Specialist and Clean Energy and Climate Specialist II: Apply Immediately
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Come join our Clean Energy Team! The Metropolitan Area Planning Council is seeking diverse candidates for our Senior Clean Energy and Climate Specialist and Clean Energy and Climate Specialist II positions. These positions will engage with municipal governments, state, and local partners on comprehensive clean energy and climate planning and policy development, energy- and climate-related technical assistance and data analysis, and regional energy and climate services procurements. They will manage programs and projects and lead exciting climate innovation efforts. These positions are opened until filled and applications are highly encouraged as soon as possible. You can apply online here.
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Clean Energy in the Community |
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WEBINAR TODAY! Electric School Bus "Getting on Board" Webinar Series: March 30
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its Clean School Bus Program, which will provide up to $5 billion in funding for electric school buses. Parents, caregivers and advocates are leading the effort for electric school buses in their communities. In this webinar series, hosted by the Alliance for Electric School Buses and the World Resource Institute's Electric School Bus Initiative, you will hear from those working to bring electric school buses to their schools and how you can adopt this program in your community. Future webinars throughout 2022 will address topics such as the electric school bus roadmap, funding and financing, charging, vehicle-to-grid technologies, and state and local policy – all centered on an equitable approach to the electric school bus transition.
The first webinar will be held March 30 at 1pm ET. Sign up for the webinar here. **If your community in the MAPC region is interested in exploring how to procure an electric bus, please contact. MAPC Clean Energy Specialist II Jesse Way at jway@mapc.org.**
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WEBINAR TODAY! MassCEC Offers New MWBE Support Grant Program: Webinar March 30, Office Hours March 31 & April 4, Proposals due April 29
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The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is introducing a Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Support Program in climate critical fields. Grants between $250,000 and $1 million are available to support the entry, creation, and expansion of MWBEs into fields that are critical to meeting the Commonwealth’s climate goals of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
The program will include stakeholder outreach and workshops as well as planning and implementation grant support. Proposals are due April 29, 2022, and grants will fund up to 3 years of support services for MWBEs. In advance of the proposal deadline, MassCEC is offering a webinar to provide more information about the new grant program on March 30 at 11am ET. They are also hosting MWBE Support RFP Office Hours March 31 at 12pm ET and April 4 at 1pm ET. Find more details here.
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EEA Public Hearing on Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030: April 7, 8 and 14 |
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is refining the Interim Clean Energy and Climate Plan, first released at the end of 2020, to meet 2025 and 2030 GHG emissions goals. Public hearings are scheduled to invite feedback on EEA’s proposal for 2025 and 2030, including economy-wide emissions limits, emissions sublimits for specific sectors, goals on natural and working lands, and related policies. An opportunity for public comment will follow EEA’s virtual presentation, which will be recorded in multiple languages and posted on www.mass.gov/2030CECP after the meetings.
Hearings with a focus on the Electric Power, Transportation, and Non-Energy Sectors will occur on April 7 from 6:00pm-8:00pm ET and April 8 from 12:00-2:00pm ET. The optional registration link for April 7 is https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_l9 1Wtui_RsmUXTbCXVzyvA. For April 8, it is https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gF PJrmJCT5m1UJX4H1keMw.
Hearings with a focus on the Buildings Sector and Natural and Working Lands will occur on April 14 from 1:00-3:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm ET. The optional registration link for the 1:00pm hearing is https://zoom.us/webinar/rg.ister/WN_vp rO7JFbQOGC-gHuOEjt4g. For the 6:00pm hearing, it is https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FGdaeFtTiSppEntXPdJBg.
Details on joining the hearings will also be posted on www.mass.gov/gwsa-meetings 2 days before each meeting.
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EEA Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program FY23 Funding Round Now Open for Applications |
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is seeking proposals for both MVP Planning and Action grants.
Planning grants provide support for Massachusetts cities and towns to complete climate vulnerability assessments and develop action-oriented climate resiliency plans. This program will help communities define climate related hazards, understand how their community may be impacted by climate change, identify existing and future vulnerabilities and strengths, and develop, prioritize, and implement key actions. Planning grant applications will be due by 4pm ET on June 7.
MVP action grants will provide designated MVP municipalities funding to implement priority climate adaptation actions identified through the MVP planning process. Projects are required to integrate climate data and projections. Action Grant applications proposals are due by 2pm ET on May 5. You can find the recording here of the recent MVP webinar.
Find more application information here.
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US DOE Launches Updated Guidebook on Solar Power in Your Community |
The US Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently released an updated version of the Solar Power in Your Community guidebook. The guidebook will assist local government officials and stakeholders in boosting solar deployment and overcoming common barriers in today's market. The guidebook includes new case studies about innovative, field-tested approaches in cities and counties around the country. It highlights the most current technologies and strategies to maximize the benefits of solar to all communities.
You can find the guidebook here.
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DHCD Climate Ready Housing Program Offers Deep Energy Retrofit Funding Opportunity for Massachusetts Multifamily Affordable Housing |
The Climate Ready Housing Program is a state-funded program to accelerate and support the creation and preservation of sustainable and climate resilient affordable multifamily housing. MassHousing and Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) are administering the program on behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). This grant opportunity is available for public, non-profit, and for-profit multifamily affordable housing sponsors. Eligible applications will have at least 25% of housing occupants with incomes not exceeding 60% of the area median income (AMI).
Deep energy retrofits and long-term zero carbon emission reductions are the focus for year one. The awards will support 2-3 projects that seek to undertake ultra low carbon renovations to existing buildings. Pre-applications will be accepted through April 22, and the first round of funding will be announced summer 2022.
Find more information and application materials here.
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Job Opportunity! All in Energy Seeking to Fill Two Positions: Community Programs Director and Bilingual Visual Communications and Marketing Manager |
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All In Energy is seeking a Community Programs Director to lead the organization's work with communities across Massachusetts. The community programs director will manage a small team of program managers who are supporting 30+ communities across the state to run community-based outreach campaigns to help residents and small businesses connect to statewide energy efficiency programs. This is a full-time position that may require occasional weekend and evening events. Find the job description here.
All in Energy is also seeking a Bilingual Visual Communications and Marketing Manager. This role includes coordinating the organization’s communication efforts and support for their community partners, including managing a small communications team, developing bilingual (Spanish/English) outreach materials to engage residents and small businesses to participate in energy-related programs, and coordinating communications strategies with partners to advance their work in communities. This is a temporary role, with the potential to extend to a permanent position. Full time and part time candidates will be considered. Find the full job description here.
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Job Opportunity! Acadia Center Seeking Senior Manager for Energy Efficiency and Building Energy Justice and Energy and Climate Policy Analyst
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Acadia Center is looking to fill multiple positions including a Senior Manager for Energy Efficiency and Building Justice and an Energy and Climate Policy Analyst. The Senior Manager for Energy Efficiency and Building Justice candidate will lead strategies to achieve Acadia Center’s goals of the Energy Efficiency and Building Energy Justice Initiative. The candidate for the Energy and Climate Policy Analyst will research and prepare materials to advance clean energy, climate, consumer, public health and energy justice goals.
Acadia Center is currently closed due to the pandemic and all work is remote. Find full job descriptions here.
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