Intervenor Support Grant Program

The Intervenor Support Grant Program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities through its Division of Public Participation and was established under the 2024 Climate Act. The program is designed to address barriers that prevent certain stakeholders from meaningfully participating in regulatory proceedings related to energy infrastructure, utility rates, and clean energy policy. These proceedings, conducted before the Department of Public Utilities and the Energy Facilities Siting Board, often require technical, legal, and financial resources that many community-based organizations, municipalities, and advocacy groups do not possess. The program therefore provides financial assistance to ensure broader and more equitable participation in decision-making processes that affect energy systems and communities. The primary purpose of the program is to support participation by entities that can demonstrate financial hardship and a lack of resources to intervene effectively in proceedings. Eligible applicants include community organizations advocating for residential customers, groups representing historically marginalized or underserved populations, municipal and regional governmental bodies, tribal entities, regional planning agencies, and unincorporated associations of three or more individuals. Individuals acting alone are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate that they are specifically and substantially affected by a proceeding and that they bring a unique perspective not otherwise represented by existing parties. Grant funding supports costs directly associated with participation in a specific proceeding. Allowable expenses include hiring attorneys, technical experts, expert witnesses, and community experts with relevant knowledge or lived experience. Administrative costs such as communication, travel, and community engagement may also be covered, generally up to ten percent of the total award unless otherwise approved. Funds may not be used for lobbying, marketing, equipment purchases, or legal appeals of final decisions. Each grantee may receive up to 150000 dollars per proceeding, with a total cap of 500000 dollars per proceeding across all grantees, although adjustments may occur based on complexity and need. To be eligible for funding, applicants must first obtain or seek intervenor status in a proceeding. This requires filing a petition to intervene that demonstrates how the applicant will be affected and how they intend to contribute to the evidentiary record. The grant application can be submitted simultaneously with the petition to intervene through the online Grants Management System. The application requires detailed information including organizational capacity, prior participation in proceedings, a clear participation plan, identification of experts, and an itemized budget. Additional documentation such as tax forms, financial statements, and supporting narratives must also be provided. The application process includes several steps: account creation in the state system, submission of the grant application and supporting documents, a completeness review, a formal evaluation by the Division of Public Participation, and a funding determination. Decisions are typically issued within thirty days after the application deadline, which aligns with the deadline to file a petition to intervene in the relevant proceeding. If the application is approved but intervenor status is still pending, a conditional award may be issued, which becomes final upon approval of intervenor status. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, tied to the timelines of individual proceedings rather than a fixed annual cycle. The program began processing applications for eligible proceedings starting July 1, 2026. Each proceeding has its own deadline for intervention, generally at least seven days prior to a public comment hearing for Department proceedings or approximately fourteen days after such hearings for Siting Board proceedings. There is no universal closing date, and applicants must monitor specific proceeding notices to determine deadlines. Following participation, grantees are required to submit a report within thirty days of the conclusion of the proceeding detailing how funds were used, the contributions made to the proceeding, and confirmation that participation did not delay the process. Payments may be issued in advance or as reimbursements, depending on the selected payment structure. Questions about the program can be directed to the Division of Public Participation via the program email, and all aspects of the program are governed by state regulations under 220 CMR 34.00.

Provide a clear and detailed participation plan; demonstrate financial hardship with supporting documentation; highlight unique perspective not represented by other parties; ensure timely filing aligned with intervention deadlines