First communities in Mass. to ban gas appliances get final state OK

"After years of deliberations, negotiations and regulatory rollout — and some well-publicized “agita” in the corner office — a handful of Massachusetts cities and towns can now significantly limit the use of fossil fuels in new building projects.

The state’s Department of Energy Resources gave seven communities the final green light to begin a groundbreaking experiment: they will require new construction and major renovation to embrace fossil fuel-free infrastructure for uses like heating and cooling.

They include Acton, Aquinnah, Brookline, Cambridge, Concord, Lincoln and Lexington, which can now effectively mandate that most construction or significant renovation projects within their borders abstain from oil and gas hookups.

Effective dates vary by community. In several cases, the rules will take effect within three months, though Lincoln’s will not kick in for roughly six months and Aquinnah’s appears to have already started on Jan. 1."

Continue reading the article at the Boston Globe (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/01/05/business/massachusetts-gas-bans/

New construction in Cambridge and at least six other cities and towns in Massachusetts will be largely free from fossil fuels under a new pilot program approved by state energy regulators last month.LANE TURNER/GLOBE STAFF

MassCEC Seeks Participants for Building Electrification and Transformation Accelerator (BETA): Commercial Buildings Pilot

Hello,   MassCEC is proud to announce our latest pilot program, aimed at helping to decarbonize a wide range of commercial facilities 20,000 square feet and larger (including multi-family buildings with 15 or more units) across the Commonwealth: the Building Electrification and Transformation Accelerator (BETA): Commercial Buildings Pilot. Aimed at helping our local buildings become 2050 ready, the pilot will support participants by creating decarbonization plans to eliminate on-site fossil fuel use over time, for the least cost. The work to support these individual projects will provide insights in the development of statewide resources for decarbonization, such as market specific guides and toolkits. Think you qualify? Apply today! Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. If your commercial property meets the criteria detailed in the Program Manual, and you're interested in decarbonizing your building, apply using our online application form. For more information, please see our flyer about the pilot. Please consider applying and sharing this opportunity with your network. If you have any questions, please contact us at buildings@masscec.com.   Learn More & Apply Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Copyright © 2023 Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Massachusetts Clean Energy Center 294 Washington St. Suite 1150 Boston, MA 02108

MassCEC Seeks Participants for Decarbonization Pathways Pilot

Apply by July 30th!

Hello,   The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is seeking around 45 homes to participate in the second cohort of the Decarbonization Pathways Pilot. The pilot offers technical support and financial incentives to implement high-efficiency decarbonization measures. This is a great opportunity to get the technical support and financial assistance to bring your home into the 21st century!   MassCEC is accepting applications between July 12, 2023 and July 30, 2023.  MassCEC is specifically looking for participants who intend to install heat pumps and/or replace their home's siding to create a better insulated envelope within the coming year. We will also be asking all participants to complete a "Home Modernization Package" that ensures the home is well-prepared to convert away from fossil fuel appliances as they make future purchases (e.g., the next time the heat or hot water heater needs to be replaced). We will also be looking for geographic, income, and building type diversity within the cohort. To learn more about applying for the second cohort, read our blog or review the application.  Please consider applying and sharing this opportunity with your network. If you have any questions, please contact us at buildings@masscec.com.   Learn More & Apply If you are interested in an update on the progress of the first cohort of the Decarbonization Pathways Pilot, please check out our update blog.  Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Our mailing address is: Massachusetts Clean Energy Center 294 Washington St. Suite 1150 Boston, MA 02108 Add us to your address book

"Aftersun" film opens the 3 film pilot at THE BLACK BOX, Apr 25 at 7 PM

Since the 2005 closure of the beloved Zeotrope Theatre, there has been an absence of steady programming for our local cinephiles.

With a generous Mass Cultural Council grant from the Franklin Cultural District, Town Councilor Cobi Frongilllo, in collaboration with THE BLACK BOX, is piloting a 3-film monthly series to assess the local appetite for more regular independent, arthouse, foreign, and classic film screenings! The films will show at 7 PM on the last Tuesday of April, May, and June; all three will be screened at THE BLACK BOX (15 W Central St, Franklin, MA 02038).

Our first film, Aftersun (2022), will be screened on Tuesday, April 25th. The moving coming-of-age drama from debut director Charlotte Wells explores the protagonist's memories of a childhood vacation with her father. It was named the best film of the year by The Guardian, IndieWire, and Sight & Sound, and earned Paul Mescal an Oscar nomination for Best Lead Actor.

Popcorn and other refreshments will be available for purchase. This is a pilot program, so we request some patience as we build out and improve the cinematic experience. 

Tickets will be sold at the door for a suggested $5 donation. All are welcome!

More about Aftersun can be found ->  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftersun

"Aftersun" film opens the 3 film pilot at THE BLACK BOX, Apr 25 at 7 PM

*** Last call to apply: MassCEC is seeking home decarbonization pilot participants

Apply by July 31st!

View this message in your browser   As a reminder, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is currently seeking around 30 homes to participate in the first cohort of the Decarbonization Pathways Pilot. This new pilot will offer technical support, generous financial incentives, and performance monitoring to implement high-efficiency decarbonization measures. This is a great opportunity to get the technical support and financial assistance to bring your home into the 21st century! Applications will be accepted until midnight this Sunday, July 31, 2022. Don't miss out on the application window! Please consider applying and share this opportunity with your network. If you have any questions, please contact us at buildings@masscec.com.    MassCEC is specifically looking for participants who intend to install whole-home heat pump systems within the coming year and are interested in completely eliminating fossil fuels from their homes during the pilot. We will also be looking for geographic, income, and building type diversity within the cohort.  Apply Click here to learn more about the pilot background, applicant eligibility, incentive levels, and the application process.

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