Accelerating Clean Energy and Equity in Massachusetts:
Accelerating Clean Energy and Equity in Massachusetts: Two Award-Winning Programs
October 20, 2026 @ 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
This Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) webinar will highlight two award-winning programs designed to make Massachusetts’ clean energy sector more equitable and inclusive.
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ (DOER) Grid Modernization Advisory Council(opens in new tab) (GMAC) is an interdisciplinary stakeholder working group charged with reviewing and providing recommendations on the state’s investor-owned electric distribution companies’ plans to modernize and invest in the electric grid to support the clean energy transition. Members of the GMAC represent low-and moderate-income residential consumers, environmental justice communities, clean energy industry, academia, environmentalists, and municipal interests. The GMAC made nearly 100 recommendations on how to maximize net customer benefits, encourage least-cost investments, and minimize and mitigate impacts on ratepayers. Without the GMAC process, utility investment plans would continue to occur largely behind “closed door” regulatory processes that are difficult for many stakeholders to understand or engage.
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Equity Workforce Training Program(opens in new tab) was designed to make the clean energy workforce more inclusive while responding to the growing demand for skilled workers. Through planning grants, technical assistance, and investments in curriculum, staffing, and equipment, MassCEC helps organizations modernize or launch employer-aligned training programs. Training is provided at little to no cost to participants. Individuals from environmental justice and underrepresented populations are prioritized, and wrap-around support such as childcare, transportation, and language services is provided. The training programs have an impressive 87% participant completion rate and 74% job placement rate. With the Massachusetts clean energy workforce more than doubling since 2010 and demand for talent continuing to rise, this program is essential to building a diverse, skilled workforce. This approach demonstrates how states can advance climate, equity, and economic goals simultaneously.
Both of these programs were recognized with a 2026 State Leadership in Clean Energy Award(opens in new tab).
Webinar panelists:
- Aurora Edington, Acting Director of Policy, Planning, and Analysis Division, MA DOER
- Julia Fox, Grid Modernization Program Coordinator, MA DOER
- Jennifer Applebaum, Managing Director, Workforce Development, MassCEC
- Edward Hsieh, Senior Program Director, Workforce Development, MassCEC
- Sam Schacht, Project Director, Clean Energy States Alliance (moderator)
What You’ll Learn: Explore two award-winning Massachusetts initiatives advancing clean energy access, economic opportunity and community participation. Learn how the Grid Modernization Advisory Council brings public stakeholders into electricity infrastructure planning, and how the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Equity Workforce Training Program expands access to clean energy careers through affordable training, employer partnerships and participant support services.
Why This Matters: The clean energy transition requires more than new technology. It also requires equitable access to decision-making, reliable infrastructure and economic opportunities. Massachusetts provides examples of how governments can modernize energy systems while addressing workforce shortages and barriers facing underserved communities. Its workforce initiative reports an 87% training completion rate and 74% job placement rate.
Action Level: LEARN
What You’ll Leave With: Practical insights into inclusive energy planning, stakeholder engagement, workforce development, public investment and replicable program models that other states and communities can adapt.
Best For: Clean energy professionals, policymakers, utilities, community organizations, workforce development agencies, educators, environmental justice advocates, municipal leaders, economic development professionals and organizations working on equitable energy systems.
Systems It Connects To:
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Clean and renewable energy
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Finance and infrastructure investment
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Smarter cities and resilient communities
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Public and planetary health
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Human and civil rights
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Education, workforce development and emerging careers
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Personal and digital democracy through public participation in energy planning
Languages: English (expected; additional interpretation services are not specified).
Accessibility and Participation Support: Online participation through advance registration. The featured workforce program offers participant services including childcare, transportation and language assistance, but these are program benefits, not confirmed webinar accommodations. Live captioning, sign-language interpretation and other webinar accessibility provisions are not specified.
Recording / Replay Available? Unknown. The organizer has not confirmed whether this specific webinar will be recorded or available for replay.
Replay / Resource URL: Official webinar information and registration page. A separate replay link is not yet listed.
Practical Next Step: Register for the webinar and examine how the two Massachusetts programs could inform local clean energy initiatives. Identify opportunities to establish community participation in grid planning, develop employer-connected training partnerships, secure public funding and reduce barriers to clean energy employment.
Mobilized action pathway: Connect clean energy organizations, workforce educators, community leaders and public agencies to document successful approaches to equitable energy transformation. Identify communities that could benefit from similar programs, map potential funding and implementation partners, and share replicable models through the Mobilized Exchange and Network.
Source: Clean Energy Group and Clean Energy States Alliance, official event announcement. Speakers include Aurora Edington, Julia Fox, Jennifer Applebaum, Edward Hsieh and moderator Sam Schacht. Learning outcomes and Mobilized action recommendations are editorial adaptations.