Vineyard Power awarded MassCEC EmPower Massachusetts Grant to Advance Equity in Energy Transition Program
Vineyard Power is pleased to announce its successful award of a Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) EmPower Massachusetts (EmPower) Implementation Grant. Support from the EmPower Grant will help Vineyard Power advance equity in its Energy Transition Program by providing resources to aid program outreach and increase participation amongst English-isolated individuals, income-eligible ratepayers, and renters. The purpose of the Energy Transition Program is to help the island of Martha’s Vineyard become 100% renewable by 2040.
Specifically, funding from the EmPower Implementation Grant has enabled Vineyard Power to hire a Portuguese-speaking Energy Coach to work predominantly with the island’s significant Portuguese-speaking Brazilian population. With the addition of a Portuguese-speaking Energy Coach, Vineyard Power is supporting English-isolated residents by offering access to its Energy Coach network. Vineyard Power Energy Coaches provide, at no cost, guidance on energy efficiency, buildings, heat pumps, electric vehicles, solar adoption, and associated rebates and incentive programs.
In addition, EmPower funding will help Vineyard Power increase participation among income-eligible ratepayers in ratepayer assistance programs, while elevating engagement from English-isolated individuals, income-eligible ratepayers, and renters in energy efficiency programming.
“The idea of the Energy Transition is meaningless if equity is not a central focus of our programming,” said Richard Andre, President of Vineyard Power. “We’re incredibly thankful to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center for their support as we work to ensure that all members of our community are engaged in the Energy Transition Program. This initiative is positioned to deliver tangible benefits and contribute to a sustainable and resilient future for Martha's Vineyard.”
“MassCEC is proud to support organizations in developing community based clean energy programs that purposefully enable underserved communities to gain access to the benefits of clean energy,” said MassCEC CEO Emily Reichert. “Vineyard Power’s participation in the EmPower Program will enable them to build off their previous work and continue to center English-isolated and Environmental Justice populations on Martha’s Vineyard as they promote access to energy efficiency and clean energy opportunities.”
About Vineyard Power
Vineyard Power is an island non-profit leading Martha's Vineyard's clean energy transition. The organization administers the Energy Transition Program – a community-driven effort to help the island achieve its 100% renewable energy goals. Through direct engagement with residents, businesses, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), municipalities, non-profits, and environmental justice communities, Vineyard Power aims to:
Increase participation in energy efficiency programs,
Foster the development of local renewable energy resources,
Enhance resiliency at the island's critical facilities,
Ensure equitable access to the renewable energy transition for all residents and businesses,
Establish an island-based workforce that will drive the island's renewable energy transition.
About MassCEC
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy sector across the Commonwealth to spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits and to secure long-term economic growth for the people of Massachusetts.