Spotlight on the Next Generation of Climate Leaders
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2025 Students from the Christa McAuliffe Center’s Perspectives of Earth Team Mentorship program
Welcome to our September newsletter! As the new school year starts, this month's focus is on our youth programming. Between MassEnergize's collaboration with Framingham State University's Christa McAuliffe Center, and our new Youth Climate Solutions Challenge, we are finding more and more ways to build the climate leaders of tomorrow!
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!
This year’s cohort tackled a sustainable redesign of Framingham Shopper’s World, drawing up plans to turn the area into a sustainable neighborhood centered around the integration of three strategies for energy sustainable communities: networked geothermal, solar photovoltaics, and passive building design. As they worked on this project, the interns consulted with subject matter experts in each of these strategies. Interns also had the opportunity to present their plans and get feedback from developers at Urban Edge - the firm that will be redeveloping a portion of Shopper’s World in real life–and the City of Framingham officials who are overseeing the redesign.
Throughout the 5-week program, interns created an hour-long final presentation, including written and digital appendices, and a map of their new design for a 100% clean energy-fueled walkable urban community. They presented this vision to an enthusiastic audience of industry professionals, energy experts, City of Framingham officials, and members of the Framingham State University community. This project elevated the voices and perspectives of young members of the MetroWest community, building interns professional skills and providing a thoughtful sustainable design after which other redevelopments of commercial lots in MetroWest can be modeled.
At MassEnergize, we’re proud to partner with programs like PETM that empower youth and inspire the next generation of climate leaders. Want to help us expand opportunities like this across Massachusetts? Join our network, support our programs, or make a donation today to fuel more youth-powered climate action.
MassEnergize is thrilled to announce a new community-based education program for public high school students in the Greater Boston area. The Youth Climate Solutions Challenge is a dynamic, year-long, team-based competition that will take place during the 2025-26 school year, with partial funding from the MA Fair Share Amendment fund. High school teams will receive mentorship, support, and resources to design and lead innovative campaigns promoting clean energy adoption—such as residential solar, electric heat pumps, or EVs—while competing for recognition and substantial cash prizes.
Each Climate Solutions Challenge team, consisting of 2-4 students and a faculty advisor, will design and implement a clean energy outreach campaign that meaningfully engages their community. Throughout this process, teams will be expected to collaborate with local sustainability committees, grassroots climate organizations, or municipal sustainability staff. Participating students will develop professional skills, gain clean energy career insight, and generate real world impact as they work to increase clean energy adoption in their community.
MassEnergize will provide extensive support to student teams, offering webinars, regular “office hours,” coaching, and resources throughout the course of campaign development.
Each team's final "climate solution" approach will be evaluated on creativity, impact, communication strategies, and measurable outcomes, with winning teams recognized at a high-profile awards ceremony in May 2026.
The Youth Climate Solutions Challenge is more than a competition—it’s a chance to empower the next generation of climate leaders while driving tangible clean energy adoption in local communities. As MassEnergize develops this scalable model for high school-based climate action, we look forward to expanding its reach across Massachusetts.
👉 If you are a parent, student, or high school teacher, and would like bring the Climate Solutions Challenge to your school, please let us know!
Stay tuned for more details on how schools, mentors, and community partners can get involved—or reach out to us now if you’d like to play a role in supporting this exciting new initiative!
Good news first! Massachusetts has launched a new winter Heat Pump Discount Electricity Rate that could save households hundreds of dollars each year.
Estimates show that 82% of customers could save an average of $687 each winter - and about 30% could save more than $1,000. If you’ve already installed a heat pump with a Mass Save rebate, you should automatically get the new rate (enrollment details are still being finalized).
Pair that with Mass Save rebates of up to $10,000 for heat pump installations and a $2,000 federal tax credit, and now is the perfect time to make the switch.
And the less good news. Federal clean energy tax incentives are expiring soon. The EV credit ($4,000–$7,500) ends September 30, and other credits for solar, heat pumps, and efficiency projects end December 31. Don’t miss out on these savings—act now to lock them in while they last.
After a summer break, we’re excited to gather again on Monday, September 15 at 7:15 PM!
Over the summer, MassEnergize has been working behind the scenes to roll out exciting updates and new tools for your websites and social media—we can’t wait to share them with you!
We will share more information on the Youth Climate Solutions Challenge and how your community can get involved.
We’ll hear from Paul Dale of the Sierra Club on the new lower heat pump electric rate that will take effect this winter where households with heat pumps are expected to save big on electricity costs.
We'll also have plenty of time to swap stories and hear about the amazing initiatives you’ve been working on this summer.
Don’t miss this chance to reconnect, learn, and get energized together!
Daniela Salazar joins MassEnergize with a background in Communications and a passion for social and environmental change. Originally from Mexico, she is pursuing a master’s in Sustainability at Tufts and brings experience in DEI, gender, and social justice. She enjoys baking, photography, and exploring the outdoors with her dog.
Ashwini Pudasaini
Ashwini is a Master’s student in Business Analytics at Brandeis University, graduating in February 2026. With a background in marketing and client relations, she combines creativity with data-driven insights to explore how technology can drive smarter decisions.
Outside of work, Ashwini enjoys reading fiction, cooking, and learning about new cultures through travel and conversation.
Welcome to the MassEnergize team Daniela and Ashwini!
MCAN, MassEnergize & Green Energy Consumers Alliance
(September 8th, 12PM - Online)
LAUNCHING: Climate Goals Tracker: How many EVs are already in your municipality? How much solar? How many heat pumps are needed to meet the goals? This new tool provides estimates of the growth needed for all three clean energy actions in each community to meet our state's 2030 goals and is a collaboration of: MassEnergize, MCAN, and Green Energy Consumers Alliance and This meeting offers Commonwealth community climate activists practical resources and networking opportunities to advance local environmental progress despite federal policy uncertainties.
(September 21st, 1 - 4PM - Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Cafeteria and library 80 Locust St. Northampton, MA)
Sun Day is a a global day of action (with events taking place across the country - see if there is one near you) celebrating the unstoppable rise of clean energy. Meet city climate and sustainability officers and learn about programs that can lower your energy costs.
Explore emotional and personal responses to the shifting world around us through creative self-expression to reflect on identity, resilience, and growth in times of uncertainty.
MassEnergize relies on donations from supporters like you!
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