Summary of Investment Plan
Massachusetts, through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Energy Resources (DOER), has developed a plan for the distribution of RGGI auction proceeds to a range of consumer benefit programs, with the largest distribution going to utility-administered energy efficiency programs.
As directed by Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2008: An Act Relative to Green Communities (the Green Communities Act), at least 80% of the state's 2010 RGGI proceeds will be dedicated to energy efficiency programs developed in the new, unprecedented, and aggressive statewide three-year Energy Efficiency Investment Plans:
Investment Highlights
Allocations to the electric efficiency Program Administrators (PA) will be made based on each PA's kilowatt sales relative to total electric kilowatt sales statewide. The bulk of the proceeds from the 2009 auctions, which yielded more than $50 million, was also distributed to the PAs and dedicated to the electric utility-administered energy efficiency programs.
- Cape Light Compact-$4,008,173
- National Grid -$19,595,514
- NSTAR -$17,368,751
- Unitil -$890,706
- Western Massachusetts Electric Co. -$2,672,116
The remainder of the state's 2009 RGGI proceeds was used for additional energy efficiency and renewable energy purposes (e.g., Green Communities Division activities).
In addition, more than $28 million in proceeds from the two auctions held in 2008 was allocated to the following programs:
- Green Communities Program start-up and Green Communities Program Grants for cities and towns ($10 million)
- Ramp-up of utility-administered energy efficiency programs ($5.9 million), as required to support the Green Communities Act.
- Assistance to municipalities for energy efficiency projects identified in DOER audits, but previously unfunded ($2.7 million)
- Heating system replacements in low-income households, through DHCD's HeartWAP program ($4 million)
- Workforce development and training programs focused on energy efficiency for homes, businesses and public buildings ($1.9 million for the Energy Efficiency Skills and Innovation Initiative), as well as seed grants and other support for innovative delivery models that will allow the energy efficiency industry to reach a new level of capacity ($3 million)
- Program administration to cover administration of the programs (note: very small portions of the above amounts may also be used to fund administration of the programs, e.g., Green Communities Program start-up)
More Information
For more information on Massachusetts use of auction proceeds, please see:
For general information on Massachusetts' participation in RGGI please consult state regulations.

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