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Welcome to our late summer newsletter. August is often a slow news month, but not for us! At MassEnergize, programs are taking off, grants are coming in, and we are hard at work ramping up for the fall! Our Solar Para Todos program is picking up speed, we were awarded a Mass Save Community Education grant, and several communities are working with us on EECBG funding proposals.
As always, please reach out to let us know what else we can be doing to support you or your community on the road to a healthier planet for all!
Last Friday, MassEnergize and the Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University hosted an inspiring event focused on Community Solar and MassEnergize's Solar Para Todos campaign. The campaign is in its beginning stages, as it helps to bring community solar to income-eligible and Environmental Justice residents in Framingham.
Friday's event brought together community members, local organizations, and a dedicated group of high school students who have been working tirelessly on outreach materials to highlight the benefits of community solar for low-income families in Framingham. Throughout the summer, these passionate students at the McAuliffe Center developed informative materials available in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Their goal is to ensure that all members of our diverse community can understand and take advantage of the benefits that community solar offers.
During the event, we had the opportunity to present these youth-created materials, engage in meaningful discussions, and gather valuable feedback from attendees. The enthusiasm and commitment from both the students and the community representatives was truly inspiring.
We are eager to continue this dialogue, learn more about the communities we all represent, and work together to make solar energy accessible to everyone. Feedback from our community members is crucial as we move forward with the Solar Para Todos project and other community solar initiatives. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this event.
Together, we can build a sustainable and inclusive future for all!
Stay tuned for more updates and ways to get involved!
MassEnergize is excited to announce that we were recently awarded the Mass Save Community Education grant! For this project, Eficiencia Energetica Para Todos (‘Energy Efficiency For All’ in Spanish and Portuguese), MassEnergize will leverage our existing partnership with the Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University. The partnership was created to engage residents of EJ neighborhoods, including renters, low and moderate income residents, and English isolated residents of South Framingham, helping them reduce their energy burdens through adoption of clean energy.
Through this project, MassEnergize will hire a bi-lingual Energy Efficiency (EE) Ambassador to integrate exposure to and training in energy efficiency practices at all stages of their high school program – from hands-on activities during recruitment, to projects during monthly Saturday training sessions, to full production of awareness campaigns during the summer internship.
We're excited about this new project and look forward to sharing more with our community!
Mass DOER Energy Efficiency Community Block Grants Reminder
This is a reminder to all our community members who are applying for and/or are interested in the DOER funding opportunity for small and mid-sized towns!
The Mass DOER Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant (EECBG) Program allows towns with less than 35,000 residents to apply for grants of up to $50,000 to support community clean energy campaigns, as well as additional clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives. The application deadline for these grants is fast approaching on August 16, 2024.
It's time to finalize and submit your grants! Don't delay and be sure to submit all your materials by August 16, 2024.
Community of Practice
While we haven't been holding our COP meetings throughout the summer, join us next month on September 9th at 7:15for our next COP meeting.Make sure to register here!
Do you know of the wonderful new Climate Carnival Games, made by our extraordinary volunteer, artist, and craftsman, Andrew Breithaupt? If not, step right up!
MassEnergize is now offering these creative and inventive handmade games, and others, on loan. Email us to reserve them for your next community event or climate fair!
Take a look at our website for more information, and email us at info@massenergize.org to inquire about renting these games for your next event.
(August 6th, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Acton Memorial Library, outside (weather permitting) or Main Meeting Room, 486 Main Street, Acton, MA)
For many North Americans, travel has become a significant and meaningful part of our lives. However, for all the people who are concerned about our changing climate, travel feels increasingly problematic. Join this discussion, no registration required. Learn morehere.
Save money and go green with community solar – no roof required! Anyone with an Eversource electricity account (including renters, condo/townhome owners, businesses, religious institutions) can subscribe to a local solar farm with no money down and no fees. At this event, you’ll learn more about how community solar works, why it’s so important, and how to sign up. Learn more about this event and register here.
Massachusetts has had a rebate for electric cars since 2014, called MOR-EV. This year, the rebate underwent some big changes, thanks to last year’s climate law. During this webinar, we’ll go over the rebate in depth. We’ll talk about:
The rebate for new and used cars
The larger rebate for income-qualified residents
The rebate for trucks
How to access the rebate at the dealership or at home after purchase
We’ll have plenty of time to answer your questions.
This webinar will take place on August 14th and August 15th. Register for either, respectively.
Vernon Walker: Climate Resilience and Climate Justice
The connection between climate resilience and climate justice is why organizing matters. We will explore how climate resilience and climate justice are connected and why it makes sense for advocates of climate mitigation and climate adaptation to work together to create a stronger climate justice movement. Register for this event here.
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Reverend Vernon K. Walker is Climate Justice Program Director for Clean Water Action and Associate Minister at the Massachusetts Avenue Baptist Church. Previously, he served as Program Director for Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW). He has over a decade of social justice organizing experience in the Boston area with a focus on the intersections of racial and climate justice.
Please help us by sending your community event pictures to info@massenergize.org. We appreciate your support!
MassEnergize relies on donations from supporters like you!
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