Commonwealth Hydropower is designed to cost-effectively increase the energy output of MA RPS-qualified hydropower through upgrades to existing facilities or the construction of new “conduit” facilities.
Donor Name: Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (MassCEC)
State: Massachusetts
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/07/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Program provides grant funding of up to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) for this funding round. Multiple awards may be awarded, totaling up to $300,000. Through the provision of this support, the Program seeks to increase the output, longevity, and ecological acceptability of hydropower facilities that are qualified for the MA RPS, or have a strong likelihood of attaining qualification, as further explained herein. Applicants’ facilities must also be licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), have an order from FERC indicating that they are non jurisdictional to FERC, or have a determination from FERC that they are a “qualifying conduit hydropower facility” in accordance with FERC Order 800.
The Program provides funding for construction projects, new technology deployment, and feasibility studies for eligible hydropower generation facilities. Applicants may request funding in the following activity areas:
- Upgrade of existing hydropower facilities, including but not limited to
- Existing hydropower facilities that are engaged or will soon be engaged in the FERC relicensing process and are considering means to increase efficiency, increase capacity, and/or reduce environmental impacts, including but not limited to
- Development of new hydropower facilities that are eligible for FERC conduit exemptions or FERC determinations that facilities are Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facilities
- Deployment of advanced hydropower technologies, including but not limited to technologies that
enable - Feasibility studies for projects described in (1-4) above.
Eligibility Criteria
- An Eligible Applicant may be a commercial, industrial, institutional, non-profit, or public entity. The Applicant must demonstrate long-term site control over the project location and the rights to the water used to power the system. If the Applicant does not own the dam or conduit associated with the project, a letter of support from the dam or conduit owner is required.
- Eligible facilities must meet criteria related to qualification for the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard and eligible projects must meet cost-effectiveness criteria.
For more information, visit MassCEC.
