MassDEP opens $5 million GAP Grant Round 4 for water utilities, food nonprofits and small food businesses

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) outlined its fourth GAP grant round at an informational webinar, offering $5,000,000 in competitive awards to support energy-efficiency and clean-energy projects at publicly owned drinking-water and wastewater facilities, eligible nonprofit food and agricultural organizations, and small businesses engaged in food distribution and processing. Michael Dabara, project manager for the program, told attendees, “we'll award a total of $5,000,000.”

The grants are intended to lower energy consumption and operating costs at eligible facilities so “those saved dollars [can be] reinvested back into the facilities and communities,” a MassDEP presenter said. The program covers design and construction costs and is reimbursed after projects are built and operating.

Why it matters: DEP said the earlier rounds produced project- and site-level energy savings and leveraged utility incentives and private dollars; the agency said applicants that combine efficiency, renewable generation and demand-response measures can improve competitiveness and long-term operating costs for essential public services such as drinking-water and wastewater treatment.

Key program details - Eligible applicants: publicly owned drinking-water and wastewater treatment plants (including plant buildings and pumping stations), nonprofit food and agricultural entities (for example, community food banks, shared kitchens and distribution organizations) and private small businesses engaged in food distribution or processing. An applicant must show the facility owner’s authorization. - Total budget and award sizing: MassDEP said the GAP 4 budget is $5,000,000. Two funding categories group projects by construction cost:…