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DOER official outlines $1.78 billion equity-focused Mass Save plan and new supports for renters and small businesses
Summary
Jo Ann Bodemer, DOER’s energy efficiency director, told the council the Mass Save 2025–27 plan dedicates $1.78 billion to equity initiatives, will weatherize 69,000 low- and moderate-income homes, expand renter and small-business supports, and tie 50% of performance incentives to equity outcomes.
Jo Ann Bodemer, energy efficiency director at the Department of Energy Resources, described the Mass Save 2025–27 three-year plan to the Environmental Justice Council, saying the plan ‘‘dedicates $1.78 billion to support our equity initiatives’’ and that ‘‘nearly 40% of the three-year planned budget is in equity.”
Bodemer outlined the program’s structure: three sectors—residential, income‑eligible and commercial/industrial—with multiple delivery channels including turnkey, lead vendors and community‑first partners. She said the plan will weatherize about 69,000 low‑ and moderate‑income homes during the term and allocate roughly $1.2 billion of equity spending to low‑ and moderate‑income customers.
Key equity measures include 21 designated equity communities (DECs) where landlords may receive 100% incentives to weatherize rental properties; expanded heat pump installations (increasing low/moderate‑income heat pump targets from 16,000 to nearly 27,000 homes); multilingual language access; a Mass Save Solutions Center to provide technical and language support; and community‑first partners who receive grant funding to hire local ‘‘energy advocates’’ to boost outreach and participation.
Bodemer said the program will enhance reporting and data access: quarterly reports will be posted to the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council site with the ability to slice participation by renters and limited-English households, and new annual zip‑code participation data will be published. She also said program administrators are working to secure HEAR funding from the federal Department of Energy and had no current indication the funds would not be received.
The plan sets an aspirational goal that 15% of the dollar volume of direct Mass Save contracts go to diverse suppliers and commits over $24 million to workforce training, including outreach to returning citizens. Bodemer described a performance incentive redesign that ties 50% of incentive opportunity to the achievement of equity outcomes — she characterized that as unprecedented in Massachusetts.
Council members asked for clearer public metrics on renter uptake, limited‑English household participation and percentage metrics over time; Bodemer pointed attendees to quarterly reports and invited follow-up via email for additional data requests.
