What Is the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative?
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative ( MTC) is the state’s development agency for renewable energy and the innovation economy. It brings together leaders from industry, academia, and government to advance technology-based solutions that lead to economic growth and a clean environment in Massachusetts.

MTC was established by the state legislature in 1984 as a quasi-public, charitable, not-for-profit organization that serves the public interest. MTC administers the Renewable Energy Trust which was created by the Legislature in 1997 as an essential component of electric utility industry restructuring to promote renewable energy development in the Commonwealth. The goal of the Trust is to generate economic and environmental benefits for the Commonwealth’s citizens by pioneering and promoting the successful commercialization of renewable energy technologies and fostering the emergence of sustainable markets for power generated from renewable energy sources. The Trust aims to position Massachusetts as a global leader in the development and application of renewable energy. It is funded through a small monthly charge on consumers’ electric bills, averaging about 50 cents per month for residential customers. For more information on MTC click here.

Why Did MTC Establish the CLEAN ENERGY CHOICE^SM Program?
Several of MTC’s objectives would be considerably advanced if a large number of consumers were to purchase renewable electricity. This would help shift electric energy consumption in Massachusetts from conventional energy sources to renewable ones. Ongoing consumer purchases of renewable electricity would also help build sustainable markets for renewable energy thereby encouraging project developers to invest in renewable energy projects.

When a critical mass of consumer vote with their dollars for renewable energy, not only does this provide financial assistance to the industry, but it sends a message of support to the market, to regulators and to policymakers.  Up to now, relatively few consumers have known about the opportunity to purchase renewable electricity and even fewer have chosen to purchase it. MTC decided to help offer consumers’ more attractive renewable electricity choices to determine whether more people would be inclined to purchase them.

We analyzed some of the barriers to consumers’ purchase of renewable electricity and decided to launch the CLEAN ENERGY CHOICE^SM program to overcome some of those barriers. The program’s certification procedures are designed to reassure consumers that each Clean Energy Choice has been carefully reviewed and is sound.

The tax deductible offerings from Massachusetts Energy Consumers Alliance ("Mass Energy") are designed to reduce the cost of renewable electricity. They also provide official recognition that, at its core, the purchase of renewable electricity is a charitable contribution and those who purchase it should be perceived as having voluntarily taken a charitable action in the public interest.

MTC is matching renewable power purchasers’ contributions with financial support to their specific communities and to low-income projects in order to increase the value of consumers’ donations and to assure consumers that they will be able to see concrete, visible results of their voluntary charitable donations.

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