DOER PON-ENE-2024-015 Municipal Decarbonization Planning Assistance Grant Program Opportunity Notice

The Climate Leader Communities program, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), offers a voluntary grant opportunity aimed at assisting municipalities in developing comprehensive decarbonization roadmaps. This program supports local governments in implementing clean energy and climate-friendly policies focused on municipal and school facilities, helping them meet certification requirements under Massachusetts' 2021 Climate Law targets, including net-zero emissions by 2050. Municipalities can apply via a competitive grant solicitation identified by BD-24-1041-ENE01-ENE01-99326, issued on March 5, 2024, and amended in September 2024. Eligible applicants must demonstrate progress on six key certification criteria, such as establishing an energy committee, adopting zero-emission vehicle policies, opting into a specialized building code, and committing to eliminate fossil fuel use. Assistance is provided through two pathways: desktop analysis for municipalities with existing energy data or onsite assessments for others, including facility inspections of buildings representing the majority of local emissions. Applications require submission of a detailed grant proposal alongside documentation such as CEO-signed commitment letters, energy committee meeting minutes, and building energy usage data verified via MassEnergyInsight or equivalent reporting tools. The program emphasizes robust municipal engagement and policy adoption to ensure compliance with climate goals. Selection prioritizes communities based on their certification progress, need, and regional coverage, employing a tiered evaluation without formal numerical scoring. Submissions are strictly electronic, with no page limits or size constraints on supporting materials. DOER administratively accepts deliverables and oversees quality standards aligned with certification requirements. While no pricing or contract clauses typical under the Federal Acquisition Regulation apply, the program demands formal CEO certification and compliance with submission and eligibility criteria, supporting Massachusetts municipalities in advancing municipal decarbonization through targeted planning assistance grants through July 31, 2026.