Community Microgrids Program - Who's Eligible?

Who’s Eligible?

MassCEC seeks to support prospective community microgrid projects with the following characteristics:

  • Are community, multi-user microgrids (as opposed to single owner or campus-style microgrids) located in Massachusetts;
  • Demonstrate significant potential to reduce GHG emissions through the integration of energy efficiency, Combined Heat and Power (“CHP”), renewable energy systems, electric and/or thermal storage technologies, demand management, energy efficiency, and other relevant technologies;
  • Have the active and engaged support of the local utility (either investor-owned or municipal light plants) and other relevant stakeholders;
  • Encompass a public or private critical facility , including but not limited to schools, hospitals, shelters, libraries, grocery stores, service (gas) stations, fire/police stations or waste water treatment plants;
  • Support the distribution system by addressing capacity concerns, providing black start capability, facilitating renewables integration, or providing other services that are meaningful to the local utility;
  • Attract third party investment; and 
  • Highlight Massachusetts-based clean energy/microgrid technology.

The Program intends to award funding for feasibility assessments to advance proposed microgrid projects through the early project origination stages and attract third party investment to these opportunities. Community Microgrid Feasibility Assessment Grant Applicants must either have the capacity to carry out the feasibility study with a pre-identified team of their own, or may opt to receive a technical and financial assessment from a Technical Consultant contracted by MassCEC to perform such assessments.

More information for communities or applicant teams looking to apply for funding for a feasibility study, with or without the assistance of MassCEC’s Technical Consultant, can be found in the associated Request for Expressions of Interest. Meanwhile, more information for entities interested in applying to serve as the aforementioned Technical Consultant will be available when the Technical Consultant Request for Proposals is released.

Request for Expressions of Interest

MassCEC is soliciting Expressions of Interest from groups interested in participating in feasibility assessments for community microgrid projects across the Commonwealth. The Request for EOIs will help MassCEC and other stakeholders identify projects which are attractive to the relevant local authorities, electric and/or gas utility, and have a strong likelihood of success.

MassCEC seeks to support multi-user community microgrids, located in Massachusetts, that meet a range of objectives including reducing GHG emissions, enabling the integration of renewable energy sources, supporting the local distribution system, and providing energy resilience for critical facilities during electrical grid outages. Respondent teams must include support from the local government and the relevant electric or gas distribution company.

More full eligibility criteria for groups interest in participating in feasibility assessments for community microgrid project, please visit the associated Expressions of Interest web page.

Feasibility Assessment Technical Consultant

MassCEC will also be soliciting applications from professionals with significant experience in community microgrids and energy project development to serve as a technical consultant. The Technical Consultant will develop preliminary designs of specific multi-user community microgrids that serve the needs of communities across Massachusetts, and perform technical and financial feasibility assessments to evaluate their viability.

For more information on the Technical Consultant Request for Proposals (RFP) please visit the associated Request for Proposals web page.