BOSTON (July 23, 2024) — As part of their ongoing commitment to increasing diversity of and access to the Massachusetts clean energy workforce, the Sponsors of Mass Save® today announced they connected over 80 minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) with opportunities at two recent Supplier Diversity Summits.

Designed to empower business owners and foster professional relationships, the summits, held in Fall River on June 13 and in Boston on June 25, featured matchmaking opportunities with nine of the Sponsors' lead vendors, a networking hour, vendor presentations, and breakout and listening sessions. Participants included HVAC, solar, and electric vehicle charging installers, as well as weatherization installers, plumbers, electricians, and other small businesses from across the Commonwealth.

Newly added this year, the Sponsors hosted panel discussions on how to best create participation pathways for MWBE contractors with input from Emerald Cities, Browning the Green Space, and The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA). The goal was to understand the challenges MWBEs face in accessing Mass Save contracts, better comprehend the resources needed for navigating Sponsor-provided programs and find optimal ways to connect vendors with diverse suppliers.

“Decarbonization is not just about cutting emissions; it’s also about ensuring that the benefits of a cleaner, greener future are shared by all, especially those who have previously been left behind,” said Kate Peters, Director of Residential Energy Efficiency at Eversource. “Events like the Supplier Diversity Summit and building relationships with a growing pool of diverse suppliers are critical for creating the delivery network needed to help reach all customers with decarbonization services.”

To advance the state's energy goals and reinforce their commitment to diversity in the energy sector, the Sponsors will continue to host annual workshops. For more information about upcoming summits, please visit MassSave.com.

Lawrence Aldrick speaks with fellow participants.

About Mass Save:

Mass Save® is a collaborative of Massachusetts’ electric and natural gas utilities and energy efficiency service providers including Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty, National Grid, and Unitil. We empower residents, businesses, and communities to make energy efficient upgrades by offering a wide range of services, rebates, incentives, trainings, and information.

We respectfully ask that Mass Save is referred to as “the Sponsors of Mass Save,” or “the Mass Save Sponsors,” to reflect the participation of all utility and energy efficiency service providers within the collaborative.

For more information, please visit our website.