Grant Program Information and Eligibility
Leading by Example Executive Order 594: Decarbonizing and Minimizing Environmental Impacts of State Government (EO 594), sets goals and requirements that will accelerate the decarbonization of fuels used to heat and cool state facilities, assist in demonstrating new technologies and strategies necessary to meet the Commonwealth’s energy goals, and quicken the shift to electric heating and vehicles. The 2024 Leading by Example Equipment Decarbonization Grant Program (Program) for eligible state entities serves to support the affordability of decarbonizing Commonwealth-owned facilities and/or their respective operations; it is thereby designed to address funding gaps for small to medium heating system and facility equipment electrification projects.
The Program provides necessary funding to deploy efficient electric solutions at existing state government facilities after accounting for other applicable funding sources (e.g., utility incentives) in order to increase project cost-effectiveness and feasibility. In addition, the Program helps familiarize state facility staff with decarbonization technologies and supports a growing workforce focused on these technologies, increasing the likelihood that these technologies will be cost-effectively expanded across more locations in the future.
Eligible projects and grant amounts can be found below:
| Grant Project Category | Base Grant Amount | Potential Grant Amount Adder(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Space Conditioning System | Up to 40% of the project cost after accounting for other available incentives, with a maximum base grant of $350,000 per site address. | Climate and Economic Justice Adder |
| Service Water Heating | Up to 40% of the project cost after accounting for other available incentives, with a maximum base grant of $150,000 per site address. | Climate and Economic Justice Adder |
| Facilities Maintenance, Operations, and/or Landscaping Equipment | For handheld equipment, push mowers, and push snow throwers, this grant will provide up to 40% of the total equipment plus battery cost after accounting for other available incentives. For ride-on mowers (including zero-turn and stand-on mowers) and utility vehicles, this grant will provide up to 55% of the total cost of equipment after accounting for other available incentives. This grant category is subject to a maximum base grant of $150,000 per site address. | Climate and Economic Justice Adder Pollinator Habitat Creation Adder |
| Commercial Kitchen Equipment | Up to 40% of the total equipment cost after accounting for other available incentives, with a maximum base grant of $150,000 per site address. | Climate and Economic Justice Adder |
Eligible costs under the Program include but are not limited to:
- Equipment procurement
- Infrastructure upgrades
- Screening
- Installation costs
- Oil tank removal
- Installation costs and services
For applicants requesting the Pollinator Habitat Creation Adder as part of landscaping projects, habitat site preparation and associated materials or services are eligible. Potential applicants with questions should contact DOER about what activities are allowable.
| Relevant Application Information | |
|---|---|
| Schedule | Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until allocated funds are awarded. |
| PON Response Deadline | June 30, 2027 |
| Additional Information | Projects must comply with all program requirements detailed in the PON on COMMBUYS. |
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact LBE-Grants@mass.gov prior to submitting a grant application to confirm eligibility and availability of funds.
Application Process and Required Documents
Process
- Applicants must first submit a Statement of Interest Form ("LBE Decarbonization Grant Statement of Interest Form" in COMMBUYS) to DOER via email at LBE-Grants@mass.gov and Morgan.Bowler@mass.gov prior to applying to the Program; such Statements of Interest shall outline proposed project, including but not limited to the estimated emissions reduction impacts.
- After a Statement of Interest Form is preliminarily approved in writing by DOER, applicants may move ahead with soliciting project quotes (if not already solicited) and/or submitting the Grant Application Form ("LBE Decarbonization Grant Program Application Form PON-ENE-2024-018" in COMMBUYS). Project cost quotes must be received prior to formally applying to the Program.
- The PON indicates which project types are subject to Federal Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) requirements. For such projects, the BABAA waiver process should be pursued if the quotes from vendors show either an unreasonable increase in cost or a lack of availability. Applicants are encouraged to work with DOER to compose project waivers.
- For applicable projects, an approved BABAA waiver must be received by U.S. Department of Energy prior to the finalization of a grant agreement between DOER and the applicant.
- When an applicant has selected a vendor (and received an approved BABAA waiver, if applicable), the selected cost proposal should be submitted to DOER along with the Grant Application Form as outlined below.
Required Materials
Grant submissions must demonstrate that the project meets the eligibility criteria described in Section 3 and Section 4 of the PON. DOER reserves the right to waive any requirements should applicants demonstrate sufficient rationale for doing so.
Required documentation includes but may not be limited to:
- Statement of Interest Form ("LBE Decarbonization Grant Statement of Interest Form" in COMMBUYS).
- Grant Application Form ("LBE Decarbonization Grant Program Application Form PON-ENE-2024-018" in COMMBUYS).
- A proposal from a vendor outlining the selected proposal for which the grant application will be supporting, including equipment and installation costs described in the grant application form. If applicants are not able to submit a proposal from a vendor, they must submit detailed cost estimates for the project in a separate attachment, including information on selected vendor, procurement method, equipment being installed, how costs were determined, and a breakdown of actual costs for equipment, installation, and all other elements referred to above.
Build America, Buy America Required Materials
Heat pump and water heating projects, which are subject to federal BABAA requirements, may seek a waiver based on lack of market availability or prohibitive cost. DOER has developed a LBE Equipment Decarbonization Grant Program BABAA Waiver template document for state entities to use; DOER will submit completed waiver request forms to the US DOE on behalf of applicants.
The approval or rejection of a BABAA waiver by the U.S. DOE may take up to 90 days. If applicants must adhere to BABAA, they should ensure to build this process into their project timeline.
How to Apply
Both the Statement of Interest Form and Grant Application Form must be submitted electronically to LBE-Grants@mass.gov and Morgan.Bowler@mass.gov.
The full Program Opportunity Notice and Attachments are available here: LBE Equipment Decarbonization Grant on COMMBUYS
Guidance and Helpful Resources
Eligible state entities may wish to refer to guidance documents developed by LBE for guidance, education, information about incentives, and savings calculators for space heating systems, service water heating, battery powered landscaping equipment, pollinator habitat, and commercial kitchen equipment. The following documents may be of particular interest:
Space Heating Systems/Water Heating:
- DOER Clean Heating and Cooling ⇒ The DOER Renewable Energy Division has compiled introductory information on clean heating and cooling technologies, as well as incentives for residential, business, and government operations.
- Contract User Guide FAC 124 - Executive Branch Agencies are required to use this contract for the acquisition of plumbing and heating products and supplies, HVAC and refrigeration products and supplies, building envelope and related materials, as well as other products.
Battery Powered Landscaping Equipment:
- LBE Battery-Powered Landscaping Equipment Resources Guide - This one-page guidance acts as a one-stop shop for the various informational resources and incentives available to public entities to support their transition to BPLE.
- Presentations for Public Entities
- 9/13/22: Presentation recording: Decarbonization Outside Our Walls: Battery-Powered Landscaping Equipment for Public Entities - On September 13th, 2022, LBE, OSD, and DCR hosted an informational session and 'ride and drive' on battery-powered landscaping equipment. This recording features a presentation from Quiet Communities on the benefits of landscaping equipment electrification, an overview from OSD on statewide contracts and helpful resources, and testimonials from users for battery-powered landscaping equipment at DCR Walden Pond, the Town of Lexington, and the Town of Wellesley. Slides can be found here: BPLE Ride and Drive - Slides and Photos September 2022
- 8/9/23: Battery-Powered Landscaping Equipment Ride and Drive: August 2023, Taunton Housing Authority - On August 9th, 2023, LBE, OSD, and the Taunton Housing Authority hosted an informational session and 'ride and drive' on battery-powered landscaping equipment. Slides provide an overview of the benefits of electrifying landscaping equipment, resources to support state entities in the transition, and information on statewide contract FAC116.
- Commercial Battery-Powered Electric Lawn and Garden Equipment Calculator ⇒ Compares the fiscal and environmental costs and benefits between commercial battery-powered landscape equipment and traditional gasoline-powered landscape equipment.
- Battery-powered landscaping equipment for state facilities ⇒ This two page infographic outlines the benefits of BPLE, lists the equipment available on state on contract and state facilities using the equipment, and steps facilities can take to procure this equipment.
- OSD's Environmentally Preferable Products Program: Commercial BPLE ⇒ OSD's EPP program page contains information on statewide contracts and additional tools and resources to support state facility adoption of battery-powered landscaping equipment.
- Contract User Guide FAC116 - Executive Branch Agencies are required to use this contract for the acquisition of commercial grade battery electric lawn equipment, as well as other products.
Pollinator Habitats:
- Pollinator Landscapes at State Facilities Guiding Framework ⇒ Includes an overview of the importance of pollinator habitats, benefits of converting traditional lawns to habitat, and strategies state agencies have undertaken to create these habitats on their lands.
- Lawn to Pollinator Habitat Savings Calculator ⇒ Designed to provide high-level estimates of potential cost savings, labor savings, and greenhouse gas emission reductions associated with converting lawns into pollinator-focused habitats.
- Pollinator Seed Checklist for State Entities 3.16.22 - This two-page guide contains basic information that facilities may want to factor into their decision-making process before procuring seeds for pollinator meadows and grasslands, as well as criteria that can be sent to seed vendors or included in a scope of work to ensure selected species are appropriate for their site, while avoiding non-native species.
- Interagency Pollinator Meadow and Garden BMP 3.16.22 - This two-page BMP is modeled after best practices developed and recommended by the DCR Pollinator Team, including guidance around site preparation, watering and weeding, and mowing. Guidance is intended to be broadly applicable to most state facilities, but may be adjusted to fit site-specific needs.
- Growing Wild for Pollinators Signs ⇒ Signage can help educate the public and show intentionality of limited-mow zones and wildflower meadows. The Growing Wild for Pollinators walk by sign includes descriptive text, and the Growing Wild for Pollinators drive by sign simply states "Growing Wild for Pollinators" in large text. Contact Morgan.Bowler@mass.gov if you are interested in obtaining one of these signs for your site.
- Additional Pollinator Habitat Info and Resources ⇒ Includes websites and resources related to creating and maintaining pollinator habitats in the Northeast US.
Commercial Kitchen Equipment:
- Contract User Guide GRO40 - Executive Branch Agencies are required to use this contract for the acquisition of industrial food and beverage equipment, food preparation equipment, and food service equipment, as well as other products.