Senator Eldridge and Representative Hogan Announce $15,000 MAPC Grant for Maynard’s Clean Energy Initiatives
Grant supports the development of local permitting and siting guidelines for new clean energy infrastructure
MAYNARD — State Senator Jamie Eldridge is proud to announce that the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has awarded the Town of Maynard $15,000 in grant funding to support the development of protocols governing the Clean Energy Facilities Process Design project.
This grant was awarded through the MAPC’s technical assistance awards for fiscal year 2026 and will allow Maynard to establish more robust protocols to guide future sustainability projects. Following Governor Healey’s signing of Chapter 239, Acts of 2024: “An Act Promoting a Clean Energy Grid, Advancing Equity, and Protecting Ratepayers,” these new protocols will allow Maynard to streamline the permitting process for clean energy initiatives in compliance with the new law.
“I look forward to seeing the projects these new protocols will support,” said State Senator Jamie Eldridge. “Only by establishing clearer regulations will Maynard be better positioned to advance projects strengthening the town’s sustainability efforts. These investments in local planning are certainly a crucial step in advancing the Town of Maynard and the Commonwealth towards our shared climate goals.”
"As part of Massachusetts' 2024 Climate and Clean Energy bill, the Commonwealth is requiring all cities and towns to reform the process for siting and permitting clean energy infrastructure so that these projects can be completed faster, more efficiently, and with more confidence. Kudos to Maynard for being one of the first towns to design its new regulations and to secure financial and technical assistance from MAPC to do so. These new guidelines will remove barriers to permitting and siting new energy storage infrastructure and help accelerate the pace of clean energy deployment in Massachusetts," said Rep. Hogan.
Funding for the award was organized by the MAPC in collaboration with the District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) and the Planning for MetroFuture Technical Assistance (PMTA) groups. Together, these programs provide municipalities with the resources to strengthen local planning for sustainability projects while promoting equity and economic development across communities. It is through these shared values and goals that this award will establish more consolidated and impactful climate protocols in Maynard.
“Maynard’s request for a technical assistance grant was to help us craft a Town-wide process intended to establish rules, regulations, and protocols for the permitting of ‘clean energy infrastructure facilities’ that will comply with the 2024 clean energy legislation (Chapter 239 of the Acts of 2024: “An Act Promoting a Clean Energy Grid, Advancing Equity, and Protecting Ratepayers). We hope it will provide a blueprint for other communities to replicate to forward this very important initiative. Maynard wishes to thank MAPC and well as Senator Eldridge and Speaker Pro Tempore Kate Hogan for their assistance with this grant and the overall leadership in advancing clean energy alternatives,” said Maynard Town Planner Bill Nesmer.
Reflecting on the support of groups like the DLTA, Senator Eldridge remarked, “The MAPC, DLTA, and PMTA have been an outstanding support in the process of building stronger sustainable infrastructure here in our communities. I’m thankful to the MAPC for recognizing the Town of Maynard as a technical assistance awardee and am excited to continue supporting the good work that is taking place with their help.”
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