Community Outreach and Providing Feedback
DOER and the AG’s Office (AGO) will jointly develop and implement the clean energy and energy efficiency programs in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover. In partnership with the AGO, DOER is seeking input from residents and businesses within the affected communities to develop programs that will deliver meaningful benefits for their energy bills and unlock access to existing statewide energy savings programs like Mass Save.
We want your feedback! Please fill out one or more of the following forms to let us know what your community needs from the program:
- Survey for Residents (Homeowners, Landlords, and Tenants) (Ver formulario en español)
- Survey for Small Businesses (Ver formulario en español)
- Residential Survey Results 5/11/21 **Note that we are still interested in your feedback!
- Losresultadosde laencuestaresidencial 11 de mayo de 2021 ** ¡Tenga en cuenta que todavía estamos interesados en sus comentarios!
Merrimack Valley Renewal Fund Advisory Committee
DOER and the AGO have established the Merrimack Valley Renewal Fund Advisory Committee to assist with stakeholder input and advice on the design and implementation of the programs. Below is a list of Advisory Committee members and their affiliation.
| Advisory Committee Member | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth Mahony (co-chair) | MA Department of Energy Resources |
| Benny Meshoulam (co-chair) | MA Office of the Attorney General |
| Susan Almono | Merrimack Valley Inter-Faith Clergy |
| Brian A. De Peña, Mayor | City of Lawrence |
| Ana Javier | Time for Change Ministry |
| Patrick Lawlor, Assistant Town Manager | Town of Andover |
| Tennis Lilly | Groundwork Lawrence |
| Vilma Martinez-Dominguez | Greater Lawrence Community Action Council |
| Melissa Rodrigues, Town Manager | Town of North Andover |
| Evan Silverio | Diverse Real Estate, LLC |
| Abel Vargas | Valley Home Insulation |
The Advisory Committee has met regularly since May 2021. Below are links to Advisory Committee meeting materials and notes, as well as materials presented at a meeting of the Merrimack Valley Project.
Clean and Efficient Energy for Residents and Businesses in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover
$41 million will be devoted to the Merrimack Valley Renewal Fund, which will be jointly overseen by the AGO and DOER. The fund will support the development of new programs that will deliver energy efficiency benefits and reduced energy bills for primarily low- and moderate-income residents of Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover.
Of that $41 million, $25.5 million will be dedicated to new programs for low- and moderate- income residents that will be informed by community feedback, and will be implemented through partnerships with community organizations to fund: housing repairs and energy efficiency upgrades, targeted outreach and engagement with landlords and renters, and workforce development to engage local residents in the clean energy economy.
Current Funding Opportunities
As part of the Merrimack Valley Renewal Fund (MVRF), The Attorney General's Office and DOER seek a vendor to provide a Bilingual (English/Spanish) Clean Energy Education and Training Program, including:
- Information about barrier mitigation, energy efficiency programs and measures, electrification technologies, and upgrades to electric wiring and panels for electrification adoption.
- Bilingual services for participants, including childcare support and transportation from domicile to training institution and back.
How to apply: Please follow the instructions in the Merrimack Valley Clean Energy Education and Training Program RFP
The deadline to apply is August 7, 2023.
Past Funding Opportunities
As part of the Merrimack Valley Energy Efficiency Enrichment Program, DOER and the AGO conducted a procurement to hire an organization or team of organizations to offer personalized support services by providing bilingual (English/Spanish) home energy project facilitation and technical assistance services to low- and moderate-income residents, and renters and landlords, in the Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover communities.
DOER and the AG released a program opportunity notice to provide grants for projects in residential buildings, or buildings that include both commercial businesses and residences, located in Andover, North Andover, and/or Lawrence, Massachusetts that maximize energy efficiency, electrification, and/or clean energy, and demonstrate a long-term commitment to providing affordable housing to low- or moderate-income residents.
Other Clean Energy Provisions in the Settlement
As part of this settlement, Eversource will also implement several other important clean energy programs:
- Eversource will prepare an analysis outlining potential decarbonization strategies for the gas business that are consistent with Governor Baker’s net-zero by 2050 greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
- Eversource will commit to Massachusetts’ aggressive three-year energy efficiency plan savings goals for the customers previously served by Columbia Gas, which provides programs and significant incentives to help customers reduce their energy usage and lower their bills through insulation and heating system upgrades.
- Eversource will fund two heat pump pilot programs, including $500,000 of funding to DOER for electrification incentives in western Massachusetts for customers impacted by the natural gas moratorium.
- Eversource will provide a no-cost special weatherization offer to the three affected communities in the Merrimack Valley through 2021. In addition, improved communication with landlords and partnerships with local organizations as well as Spanish speaking outreach, and customer service will be provided.
- An energy relief fund will be established that will help approximately 26,000 low-income customers across the Eversource’s service territory by forgiving approximately $14.8 million in accumulated debt from their gas bills.
Next Steps for Residents or Business Owners
If you are interested in participating in these programs, are a resident of Lawrence, Andover, or North Andover, a small business or community organization, or a contractor interested in learning more, use the program contact below.
Glossary of Energy & Environmental Justice Terms and Acronyms
A glossary of energy terms, environmental justice terms, and acronyms is available.
Contact for Merrimack Valley Clean Energy & Energy Efficiency Programs
Online
Phone
Available M-F 9am-5pm
| Date published: | October 22, 2020 |
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