Eversource, National Grid, and Berkshire Gas kick off 2024 Main Streets Events

BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MA (June 7, 2024) – In support of their ongoing commitment to helping small businesses reduce energy use, the Sponsors of Mass Save® today announced the continuation of the 2024 Main Streets initiative for businesses in Berkshire County. The initiative, now in its 10th year, brings energy-saving solutions to small business customers across Massachusetts through energy assessments. These no-cost, no-obligation assessments help businesses reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb energy use while driving participation in Mass Save energy efficiency programs.

In 2023, the Sponsors of Mass Save visited 91 communities across the Commonwealth, resulting in over 360 fully weatherized small businesses. This year, the Sponsors will continue building on this success through close collaboration with local community partners, multilingual marketing efforts, and language support at in-person events.

Sponsor-approved energy experts will be in the community, meeting with small business owners and providing more information about the incentives, programs and services that are available to them. Upcoming Berkshire County Main Streets include:

• June 10 – 14: Pittsfield

• June 24 – 28: Adams

• June 24 – 28: North Adams

• June 24 – 28: Williamstown

• August Date TBD: Lee

• August Date TBD: Lanesborough

Main Streets will also take place June 10 – June 21 in the following Berkshire County towns: Becket, Cheshire, Dalton, Hinsdale, Lenox, Otis, Peru, Savoy, Tyringham, Windsor, Washington, Sandisfield, Middlefield, New Ashford, Tolland, Blandford.

The Sponsors are collaborating with local nonprofits to boost outreach to small businesses for several of these Main Streets efforts as a part of the Mass Save Community First Partnership, an initiative focused on increasing participation in energy efficiency programs. The Berkshire County Planning Commission (BRPC) is supporting outreach in Adams, Lanesborough, Lee, North Adams, Williamstown and Ener-G-Save is working to spread the word in Pittsfield.

“Small businesses are the life blood of local economies,” said Tilak Subrahmanian, Vice President for Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility, Eversource. “We’re here to help small businesses, particularly in Environmental Justice Communities where energy burdens are high, to reduce their costs so they can be well positioned to serve and support their local communities.”

Main Streets energy efficiency solutions start with a no-cost, no-obligation energy assessment to identify energy-saving opportunities for small businesses, such as weatherization, insulation, programmable thermostats, and more. Improvements like installing aerators and spray valves happen on the spot at no cost, where more involved projects, like the installation of energy-efficient motor controls, are scheduled for a future date. Participating Sponsors offer increased incentives for a range of energy efficiency improvements to further offset the cost of upgrades, with interest-free financing available for any remaining costs. Local licensed electricians will complete approved projects and ensure minimal disruption to daily business operations.

“Improving the energy efficiency of homes and businesses is one of the simplest, most effective ways customers can reduce their usage while shrinking their carbon footprint,” said Hammad Chaudhry, Senior Manager of Conservation and Load Management at Berkshire Gas Company. “To see Massachusetts fully embrace this important work through the Main Streets initiative reflects their commitment to sustainability among homes and businesses across the state, and I am grateful for their partnership on these essential efforts.”

“We encourage any small business to get involved in Main Streets for a quick and easy way to cut energy use and greenhouse gases,” said Chris Porter, Director of Customer Energy Management, National Grid. “We want the small businesses in our communities to feel empowered to reduce their carbon footprints, while also maximizing the energy savings opportunities available to them.”

For businesses interested in scheduling a no-cost, no-obligation energy assessment, including those in communities not part of an official Main Streets event this year, please visit www.masssave.com/smallbusiness.

About the Sponsors of 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 https://www.masssave.com/.