National Grid Approved for Phase III Electric Vehicle Proposal

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WALTHAM, Mass. —The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities recently approved National Grid's Phase III Electric Vehicle (EV) proposal, the largest and most comprehensive EV program ever filed by the company, supporting the Commonwealth's goals of achieving net zero emissions, accelerating transportation electrification throughout Massachusetts, and providing customers with more charging options. 
 
This approval is among the first of its kind in the Northeast and will provide extensive EV infrastructure (Make Ready) through incentives and programs for residential, fleet, public, and workplace customers.
 
"With this approval, we aim to enable up to 32,000 additional charging ports to support the vehicle charging needs of all our customers and the communities we serve—including targeted components for low-income households and environmental justice communities," said Jake Navarro, Director, Clean Transportation Products, National Grid. "We know there remains more to do, including long-term investments in our electric infrastructure, but this is a significant step as we increase awareness, accessibility, and affordability to ensure the benefits of clean transportation are available to all."
 
Highlights of the Program offerings include:
  • Residential incentives to support at-home electrical upgrades, EV charger installations, and off-peak charging.
  • Public and Workplace EV charger incentives to enable widespread access to charging across communities and the Commonwealth.
  • Fleet offerings to assist with installing EV chargers and electrifying fleet vehicles,
  • including light-, medium- and heavy-duty.
  • Demand Charge Alternative Program to reduce the operating costs of fast chargers and help accelerate charger deployment in underserved locations.
Transportation is the largest contributing sector to greenhouse gas emissions in the Commonwealth (42 percent as of 2017). Under the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan the Commonwealth aims to have 200,000 EVs on the road by 2025 and 900,000 EVs by 2030.
 
"The number of charging stations that will be built as a result of this approval is the right order of magnitude to accommodate the growth in EVs that we need and expect to see over the next four years," said Larry Chretien, Executive Director, Green Energy Consumers Alliance. "The rebate that will be offered to residential EV owners who install Level 2 charging units will also be helpful in both encouraging people to get an EV and to charge their cars off-peak."
 
The Phase III Programs build upon the Company's first two Phases by providing offerings to meet the diverse needs of all our customers, creating the infrastructure required to support statewide EV adoption—at the scale necessary to meet Massachusetts' EV targets—and helping to enable the Commonwealth's broader transition to a clean transportation future.
 

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Pittsfield Schools Awarded Funds to Boost FAFSA Completion

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration is providing grants to more than 100 Massachusetts public schools serving Gateway Cities to help high school seniors complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
 
In Berkshire County, Eagle Education Academy will receive $30, Pittsfield High School will receive $5,400 and Taconic High will receive $5,670.
 
These grants, totaling more than $550,000, follow an announcement that the state's priority deadline to apply for Massachusetts financial aid via MASSGrant has been extended from May 1 to July 1, 2024. The awards are also intended to support schools amid unique nationwide challenges with this year's FAFSA. 
 
As of April 2024, 168,489 students or prospective students in Massachusetts have completed the FAFSA, a decrease from 232,560 in April 2023.
 
"We want high school seniors to know that there is still time to complete the FAFSA and pursue higher education this coming fall," said Governor Maura Healey. "These additional funds will help reach students who have yet to complete the FAFSA but who aspire to attend college and may benefit from the significant financial aid programs available in Massachusetts."
 
The FAFSA completion grants will be issued to public high schools at which 70 percent or more of the students served are from Gateway Cities. The funds are also granted to Massachusetts high schools taking part in the federal Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program. High schools will receive grant amounts equal to $30 per 12th grader.
 
The grant funds for schools are being distributed by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education in collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. School leaders and counselors can dedicate grant money to FAFSA completion events or celebrations, and they can purchase prizes such as gifts cards and school-branded merchandise for students who complete the FAFSA or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA). Students who cannot complete the FAFSA due to their citizenship status should complete the MASFA.
 
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