Accelerating Clean Energy and Equity in Massachusetts: Two Award-Winning Programs 

This Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) webinar will highlight two award-winning programs designed to make Massachusetts’ clean energy sector more equitable and inclusive.  

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ (DOER) Grid Modernization Advisory Council (GMAC) is an interdisciplinary stakeholder working group charged with reviewing and providing recommendations on the state’s investor-owned electric distribution companies’ plans to modernize and invest in the electric grid to support the clean energy transition. Members of the GMAC represent low-and moderate-income residential consumers, environmental justice communities, clean energy industry, academia, environmentalists, and municipal interests. The GMAC made nearly 100 recommendations on how to maximize net customer benefits, encourage least-cost investments, and minimize and mitigate impacts on ratepayers. Without the GMAC process, utility investment plans would continue to occur largely behind “closed door” regulatory processes that are difficult for many stakeholders to understand or engage.  

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Equity Workforce Training Program was designed to make the clean energy workforce more inclusive while responding to the growing demand for skilled workers. Through planning grants, technical assistance, and investments in curriculum, staffing, and equipment, MassCEC helps organizations modernize or launch employer-aligned training programs. Training is provided at little to no cost to participants. Individuals from environmental justice and underrepresented populations are prioritized, and wrap-around support such as childcare, transportation, and language services is provided. The training programs have an impressive 87% participant completion rate and 74% job placement rate. With the Massachusetts clean energy workforce more than doubling since 2010 and demand for talent continuing to rise, this program is essential to building a diverse, skilled workforce. This approach demonstrates how states can advance climate, equity, and economic goals simultaneously. 

Both of these programs were recognized with a 2026 State Leadership in Clean Energy Award.  

Webinar panelists: 

• Aurora Edington, Acting Director of Policy, Planning, and Analysis Division, MA DOER  
• Julia Fox, Grid Modernization Program Coordinator, MA DOER 
• Jennifer Applebaum, Managing Director, Workforce Development, MassCEC  
• Edward Hsieh, Senior Program Director, Workforce Development, MassCEC   
• Sam Schacht, Project Director, Clean Energy States Alliance (moderator)