Overview
The Intervenor Support Grant Program (“Program”) was established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity and protecting ratepayers, St. 2024, c. 239 (the “2024 Climate Act”). The Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations, community groups, and certain governmental bodies who are presently or historically unable to participate in proceedings before the Department of Public Utilities (“Department”) and Energy Facilities Siting Board (“Siting Board”) because of financial hardship, inadequate resources, or lack of technical expertise.
The goal of the Intervenor Support Grant Program is to support meaningful participation in energy-related decision-making and ensure diverse perspectives are considered as we transition to an equitable and clean energy future. The 2024 Climate Act also establishes the Division of Public Participation (DPP) at the Department and authorizes DPP to administer all aspects of the Program.
Final Regulations
The Intervenor Support Grant Program is governed by Final Regulations, 220 CMR 34.00. The Order adopting the Final Regulations addresses the comments received during the rulemaking process and explains the Department’s rationale for changes made to the regulations.
Groups Eligible to Receive Grant Funding
Entities eligible to receive grant funding from the Intervenor Support Grant Program include:
- Organizations and entities that advocate on behalf of residential customers within a specific city, town, or region, or residential customers that have a specific shared interest;
- Organizations and entities that advocate on behalf of certain populations, including low-or moderate-income residents or residents of historically marginalized or overburdened and underserved communities, or residents of a Burdened Area;
- Government bodies such as city, town, district, regional school district or county, agency, board, commission, authority, department or instrumentality of a city, town, district, regional school district or county;
- Regional planning agencies;
- Tribes, including federally recognized Tribes, state-recognized Tribes, or state acknowledged Tribes;
- An unincorporated association made up of three or more individuals who may be specifically and substantially affected by a Department or Siting Board Proceeding and share similar interests.
Note: Individuals and Limited Participants are not eligible to receive a Grant through the Program.
Eligibility Criteria to Apply for a Grant
Grant Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible to receive a grant and provide the required information as part of the Grant Application:
- Demonstrate that intervening and participating in the proceeding presents a Significant Financial Hardship without receiving a grant. Grant Applicants must provide a narrative in the Grant Application that includes, if applicable, information on the number of staff, current fiscal year total budget, number of months of operating reserve available, unallocated funds or grants that may be available for interventions, and Form 990 for non-profit organizations with federal tax-exempt status. An unincorporated association made up of three or more individuals must provide a self-attestation of all members in the group requesting funding, number of additional volunteers or supporters, an explanation of the association’s collective mission and activities, and a narrative to demonstrate the level of financial hardship.
- Provide information about the last three Department or Siting Board proceedings in which the Grant Applicant has intervened.
- Describe proposed participation in the Proceeding, including contribution to the Evidentiary Record.
- Describe position and nature of interest in the Proceeding and a clear plan for participating in the Proceeding.
- Detail the Grant Applicant’s unique perspective that is not adequately represented by other parties to the Proceeding.
- State whether attorneys, technical experts, expert witnesses or Community Experts have already or will be retained as part of participation in the Proceeding.
- Provide a proposed budget.
Apply for a Grant
Grant Applicants should use the online Grants Management System (GMS) hosted by the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs to apply for a grant through the Program, upload necessary documentation, track the status of the Grant Application, submit payment requests and invoices, and upload the post-proceeding report.
In limited circumstances where a Grant Applicant does not have internet access, paper copies of the Grant Application and supporting documentation may be mailed to:
Attn: Division of Public Participation
Department of Public Utilities
1 South Station, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02110.
File a Petition to Intervene
Grant Applicants should receive intervenor status in a Department or Siting Board Proceeding to be eligible for a Grant. A Grant Applicant may simultaneously file a petition to intervene and submit a Grant Application. A Grant Applicant whose petition to intervene in a Department or Siting Board Proceeding is denied is ineligible for Grant funding.
DPP only decides the status of the Grant Application and does not participate in decisions regarding petitions to intervene in a Department or Siting Board Proceeding. The Intervenor Support Grant Program Guidebook and video resources have more information on the role and responsibilities of intervenors.
The deadline to file a petition to intervene in a Department Proceeding is specified in the Notice for that Proceeding and is at least seven days prior to the public comment hearing. Refer to 220 CMR 1.03 for regulations governing intervention and participation in Department Proceedings.
The deadline to intervene in a Siting Board Proceeding is specified in the Notice and is usually 14 days after the public comment hearing. Refer to 980 CMR 1.05 for regulations governing intervention in a Siting Board Proceeding, 980 CMR 1.00 for additional information on Siting Board Rules of Conduct for Adjudicatory Proceedings.
The Intervenor Support Grant Program Guide has more information on the process to intervene in a Department or Siting Board proceeding.
Intervenor Support Grant Program Guide (This is a living document and will be updated as new information is available)
Important Dates
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| DPU adopts the 220 CMR 34.00 Final Regulations | Friday, February 27, 2026 |
| Start date for processing Grant Applications for Department and Board Proceedings | Wednesday, July 1, 2026 |
Please note: Department or Board proceedings initiated before July 1, 2026, are not eligible for grants through the Program.
For questions about the Program email dpu.isgp@mass.gov.
Rulemaking Background
The Department issued a straw proposal on the Intervenor Support Grant Program on April 11, 2025, describing the proposed Program including the grant application process, eligibility criteria, funding levels, and method and timeline for the disbursement of funds. An overview of this straw proposal was presented at a series of four stakeholder sessions held in April and May 2025. Oral and written comments were accepted on the straw proposal. Comments received from stakeholders were used to draft the proposed regulations.
On September 12, 2025, the Department opened a rulemaking to establish requirements for Intervenor Support Grant Program, 220 CMR 34.00. The Department held four public hearings in October and November to receive comments on the proposed regulations.
On February 13, 2026, the Department filed the regulations with the Secretary of State’s office for publication February 27, 2026.
Resources for Grant Applicants
- Apply for a grant through the Grants Management System (GMS)
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Open PDF file, 1.26 MB, Intervenor Support Grant Program Overview Flyer (English, PDF 1.26 MB)
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Open PDF file, 1.28 MB, Steps in a DPU Adjudicatory Proceeding (English, PDF 1.28 MB)
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Open PDF file, 1.5 MB, Becoming an Intervenor and Applying for a Grant (English, PDF 1.5 MB)
| Date published: | February 11, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Last updated: | July 10, 2026 |