The Healey administration has awarded $40.3 million in grants to 36 energy storage projects across Massachusetts, with the goal of keeping critical facilities running during extreme weather and extended power outages.
The funding comes from the Department of Energy Resources’ Advancing Massachusetts Power Energy Storage Grant Program.
The largest share supports community resilience, adding roughly 10 megawatts (MW) of battery storage at public works facilities, wastewater treatment plants, and schools. The Springfield Water and Sewer Authority wastewater treatment plant, the Braintree Department of Public Works, and Lowell Regional Water Utilities each received $2.5 million.
State officials said the vast majority of the funding is going to environmental justice communities, which tend to face longer outages, an aging grid, and higher energy bills.
“This is about lowering energy costs and keeping the lights on when communities need it most,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “These investments will help schools, affordable housing, community centers and other critical facilities stay powered during outages while strengthening our grid for the future.”
A second category covers safety and education. Training grants will go to groups including the Boston Fire Department, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to prepare first responders, electricians, and municipal officials on fire codes, permitting, and emergency response as battery deployment grows.
The remaining funds back long-duration energy storage, which can discharge for 10 to 20 hours.
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