54 Massachusetts Climatetech Businesses and Institutions Urge Legislature to Support Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

BOSTON – This morning, 53 Massachusetts climatetech businesses and institutions sent a letter to State Representative Aaron Michlewitz and State Senator Michael Rodrigues, chairs of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, urging them to fully fund the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) at $30 million in the FY26 state budget. 

In November 2024, lawmakers passed transformative climatetech provisions in the Mass Leads Act, putting Massachusetts on a trajectory to becoming the best place to start, staff, and scale climatetech companies. Now, businesses and institutions are united in their call for the legislature to fully utilize the capital and tax incentive programs within the legislation.  

Signatories recognize the impact of this funding on the growth of our Commonwealth’s green economy. “Investing in MassCEC pays dividends not just in workforce development and business support, but also in driving down the cost of decarbonization,” they write. “Full allocation for MassCEC will help ensure that climatetech business-building and solution deployment happens in Massachusetts and that it is done by and for Massachusetts residents, fully capturing the multi-pronged benefits of the net-zero transition.” 

Specifically, the letter stresses the importance of MassCEC’s programs to: 

• Serve as a hub of clean energy grants and technical assistance 

• Invest in Massachusetts-based climatetech companies 

• Train and nurture a skilled clean energy workforce 

• Further equity and inclusion in this growing industry 

”To reach our climate goals and build a brighter future, we need to develop more effective, affordable climate tools,” said Elizabeth Henry, President of the Environmental League of Massachusetts. “Fully funding MassCEC is a critical step to make sure Massachusetts leads the way – demonstrating to the nation and the world that climate innovation is good for our communities and our economy.” 

“At Greentown Labs, we see every day how Massachusetts-based climatetech startups are building the solutions we need for our decarbonized, clean energy future,” said Georgina Campbell Flatter, CEO of Greentown Labs. “And as a longstanding pillar of the Massachusetts clean energy ecosystem, the MassCEC has played a mission-critical role in the success of these startups since the agency’s inception in 2008. Fully funding the MassCEC is essential to accelerating this innovation, catalyzing local workforce development, and ensuring the benefits of the clean energy transition are felt across our communities. This investment will undoubtedly help Massachusetts remain the most compelling place in the world to start and scale a climatetech company.” 

“Massachusetts is going to invent the future, but there is no guarantee the future gets built here,” said Ben Downing, Chief Growth Officer at The Engine. “If we want the brilliant ideas developed in labs across the state to grow here and expedite the energy transition, we need to continue to invest in MassCEC.” 

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