The meeting began with the appointment of Stephen Ellis as acting chair due to the absence of the appointed chair. Ellis emphasized the significance of the meeting, which included discussions and votes on the finalists for the 2024 application cycle of the Equitable Emissions Investment Fund. Board member Lore recused herself from the discussion due to a conflict of interest, as she serves as the executive director of an agency that submitted a funding proposal.

A total of 19 applications were reviewed, with the city team conducting initial eligibility checks before sharing them with board members for individual evaluations. The evaluation criteria included emissions reductions, benefits to affordable housing, labor and workforce development, air quality, climate resilience, and quality of life. Four applications emerged as top contenders: Dorchester Bay Economic Development Center, Fenway Community Development Corporation, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, and The Community Builders.

The application from Dorchester Bay Economic Development Center, requesting $250,000 to install solar panels on nine multifamily buildings, was the first to be discussed. Board members appreciated the straightforward nature of the application and the clear correlation between savings and residents’ utility bills. However, concerns were raised about potential barriers to installation, such as roof reinforcement and electrical wiring costs.

The Fenway Community Development Corporation’s application, seeking $245,200 for energy efficiency and weatherization upgrades, was next. The proposal included installing heat pumps and energy-efficient lighting. While the organization had other funding sources, board members debated the impact of these sources on the request. Concerns were also expressed about the level of emissions reduction expected from this project compared to others.

Green Energy Consumers Alliance applied for $250,000 to support a program providing rooftop solar access to low and moderate-income residents. While the scalability of the application was appreciated, there were concerns about the contingencies involved. One member suggested that the application seemed to present an opportunity for a “leap of faith,” indicating a need for more detailed understanding before making a decision.

The Community Builders’ application, also seeking $250,000 to install a solar array on two buildings in Dorchester, was estimated to achieve a 30% reduction in energy usage and produce approximately 163,000 kilowatt-hours of energy. While the potential benefits were recognized, the need to assess its impact relative to other proposals was highlighted.

Board members then discussed additional applications, including those from Roxbury Tenants of Harvard, Morville House Apartments, Alon Brighton Community Development Corporation, Built Buildings Lab, Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (Noah), and Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation. Concerns about alternative funding sources and the labor and workforce aspects of the applications were raised. Specific attention was given to the Morville House Apartments application, which required tenant-level renovations and tenant notifications.

The board also reviewed applications that did not make it to the top list, including the Boston Building Resource Center and East Boston CDC. The challenge of balancing the needs of various applications was emphasized, along with the potential for some projects to qualify for existing decarbonization funding programs.

A public comment period followed, with Michelle Brooks, a resident of Allston, raising a question regarding a solar project mentioned in the applications. She inquired if the projected 30% reduction in energy bills would directly benefit residents or if it referred to overall energy savings. Diana, presumably a board member or staff, confirmed that the energy savings were primarily for common areas, with any savings reinvested into the organization’s programming. Claudia clarified that a solar project under consideration by the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Center intended to provide 15% of the savings directly to residents at the Glendale Apartments.

The board used a live ranking system to determine which applications would advance to the next meeting. The top five applications identified included Dorchester Bay Economic Development Center, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, The Community Builders, Codman Square NDC, and Fenway CDC. These entities were invited to present as finalists at the September 9 hearing, with a focus on addressing specific questions about their exploration of funding sources, commitments to workforce and labor, and tenant notifications.