A New Era for the Massachusetts Climatetech Industry

A New Era for the Massachusetts Climatetech Industry

December | 2024

Happy Holidays from MassCEC! We’re excited to bring you the final MassCEC Newsletter of 2024, a year in which Massachusetts took significant steps forward in its clean energy transformation and its goal to become the world leader in climate innovation.

Before we dive in, we want to thank YOU for your support over the past year. Our work is possible because of the residents, workers, innovators, and climate leaders who make Massachusetts so special.

Now, to the big story we’ve been waiting to share.


Story of the Month: MA’s Historic Investment in Climatetech

With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Healey last month ushered in an exciting new era for the Massachusetts climatetech industry and the Commonwealth’s economy!

The passage of the Mass Leads Act will make Massachusetts the climate innovation lab for the world, creating thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic activity. 

The Mass Leads Act unlocks significant resources for MassCEC to administer over ten years, including:

✔ Bond funding to support climatetech companies as they innovate, manufacture, commercialize, and deploy technologies.

✔ Funding for a new tax incentive program to help attract, retain, and grow climatetech companies in Massachusetts.

✔ Establishes the new "climatetech" definition within state law and expands MassCEC's scope to include climatetech.

✔ Bond funding to support offshore wind economic development, expanding the Commonwealth’s lead and innovation in this critical sector.

✔ Fixes to the existing offshore wind tax credit program that will make the program more accessible to offshore wind companies.

We’re fortunate to live in a state that is strongly committed to addressing the climate challenge and recognizes it as a profound opportunity to build a stronger, more equitable economy. Read more about the bill from The Boston Globe's Jon Chesto!


EV Rebates Help Taxi and Rideshare Drivers Electrify 

Vehicle-for-hire drivers log countless miles every day, and now, with programs like MassCEC’s Ride Clean Mass, those miles can be traveled without fossil fuels. This first-of-its-kind initiative provides rebates for Massachusetts’ taxi and rideshare drivers to purchase or rent electric vehicles—helping them cut fuel costs, reduce maintenance expenses, and lower emissions. 

Last month, our team joined together with CALSTART and Green Energy Consumers Alliance at Suffolk Downs to host a program kickoff and EV test drives for interested drivers.   Want to learn more? Explore and apply at ridecleanmass.org


It Takes a Team to Build a Workforce

We’re honored to be part of a thriving community of organizations building and mobilizing an equitable clean energy workforce. We especially enjoy it when we can get together to chat about progress made and the work ahead. 

That’s why, late last month, MassCEC team members spent a day in Devens at our semi-annual workforce gathering. MassCEC CEO Emily Reichert had the pleasure of moderating a panel featuring Chiderah Okoye from Transform Power Systems, Craig Van Batenburg from Automotive Career Development Center, and Josue Pierre from IBEW Local 103. From unions to technical schools, many thanks to all who attended!

Interested in MassCEC's Workforce Development Grants? Explore our open funding opportunities!


And the Winners Are…

This past summer, MassCEC teamed up with FedTech to launch the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio.

Our goal? To accelerate the creation of climatetech startups by matching entrepreneurs with promising climate technologies emerging from the lab. 

After an intensive 16-week program, eight teams came together in late November to pitch their climate solutions to a distinguished panel of judges at the first annual Massachusetts Climatetech Studio Showcase at Greentown Labs. 

The winners of the inaugural cohort are: 

  • H2 Everywhere: Alice Wang, Alfredo Galvan, Marty Cissell Tech Source: UMass Lowell
  • Respire Energy: Candy Wong, Dave Hsu, Xiaowei Teng Tech Source: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • CoBon Technologies: Joan Barcelona, Tim Cunningham, Carter Racine Tech Source: Texas A&M

Congratulations to the winners and participants! As the Studio's first cohort wraps up, MassCEC is excited to announce the launch of applications for the second cohort! Interested entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply.


MassCEC Innovator of the Month: H2 Everywhere

Let's learn more about H2 Everywhere, the first-place winner of the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio Showcase.

Led by entrepreneurs Marty Cissell, Alfredo Galvan, and Alice Wang, the company uses technology invented by University of Massachusetts Lowell Professor David K. Ryan. H2 Everywhere’s technology aims to reduce emissions from heavy industry and transportation by making green hydrogen accessible and affordable.

H2 Everywhere uses an innovative thermocatalytic process with a nickel-based catalyst to convert carbon dioxide and water into formic acid under mild conditions.

We have high hopes for this amazing team! Follow them on LinkedIn to keep track of their progress.


MassCEC By the Numbers

MassCEC supports over two-thirds of the electric school buses in Massachusetts, an effort that is reducing air pollution in neighborhoods across the Commonwealth. Learn more about the impact of our ACT School Bus Program!


Requests for Proposals

Are you looking for ways to use your professional expertise in the clean energy and climatetech sector? See our featured RFP below: 

CriticalMass Program Support Service Advisor | $200,000

Applications Due January 16, 2025

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center is seeking an advisor and provider of support services for its forthcoming CriticalMass program.  CriticalMass will provide growth-stage climatetech start-ups with grant funding of up to $1,000,000 per project as well as partnership-focused support to scale and deploy novel clean energy and climate technologies that demonstrate strong potential for commercial viability and market penetration while providing significant measurable clean energy and/or climate benefits.


MassCEC in the News:

  • MassLive and The Bay State Banner joined MassCEC at Suffolk Downs to cover the launch of Ride Clean Mass, an electric vehicle rebate program for Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers in Massachusetts.  
  • MassCEC's Jennifer Applebaum spoke with The Boston Globe for their story about formerly incarcerated individuals who have joined the clean energy workforce.  
  • The New Bedford Light traveled to Charlestown to tour MassCEC's Wind Technology Testing Center and learn about the role it plays in Massachusetts' growing offshore wind industry.  
  • Sustainable Times covered good news for Transaera, a MassCEC portfolio company.   
  • Axios reported that Copernic Catalyst, a MassCEC grantee, recently raised $8 million in seed funding.   
  • Brake & Front End explained how MassCEC funding is supporting EV education at Brockton High School's new Clean Automotive Technology Center of Excellence.  
  • The Chelsea Record shared words from MassCEC's Lisa Dobbs about how La Colaborativa is using MassCEC EmPower grant funding to launch the Healthy Living in Chelsea Initiative.  
  • The Bay State Banner spoke with MassCEC's Raija Vaisanen about a new energy auditor training program at Roxbury Community College.

Explore other stories on our website!


We're Hiring! Join the MassCEC Team!

MassCEC provides a mission-oriented, collaborative, and supportive environment. Our exciting, fast-paced culture is fueled by creative ideas and innovative thinking. We are proud of our unparalleled commitment to our employees and prioritize professional development opportunities for our team. Current open positions include:

Marketing Director

Content Creation Manager

Please visit our Careers page for more listings.


Looking for clean energy jobs at other organizations? 

Clean energy employers from across the state regularly post non-internship positions on our Jobs Board and are looking for candidates just like you to fill these crucial roles. 

Go to Clean Energy Jobs Board

Thank you for reading! Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X to stay up to speed about the latest updates.  

Wondering how you can help? Forward this newsletter to a friend, family member, or neighbor. And explore ways you can join the clean energy transformation at CleanEnergyLivesHere.com or MassCEC.com

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