§ 3 — Powers of center

Section 3. (a) The center shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate its purposes, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers:(1) to adopt and amend by-laws, regulations and procedures for the governance of its affairs and the conduct of its business, notwithstanding chapter 30A;[ Clause (2) of subsection (a) effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.](2) to establish standards requiring that any grant, loan or other appropriation of funds pursuant to this chapter be subject to an intellectual property agreement between the center and the recipient person; provided, however, that said intellectual property agreements shall balance the opportunity for the commonwealth to benefit from the patents, royalties and equity ownership in public and private companies and licenses with the need to ensure that essential clean energy research shall not be unreasonably hindered by the intellectual property agreements; and provided further, that all revenues or financial interests of any kind received by the center as a result of said intellectual property agreements shall be placed, in their entirety, in the fund.[ Clause (2) of subsection (a) as amended by 2024, 238, Sec. 82 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.](2) to establish standards requiring that any grant, loan or other appropriation of funds pursuant to this chapter be subject to an intellectual property agreement between the center and the recipient person; provided, however, that said intellectual property agreements shall balance the opportunity for the commonwealth to benefit from the patents, royalties and equity ownership in public and private companies and licenses with the need to ensure that essential climatetech research shall not be unreasonably hindered by the intellectual property agreements; and provided further, that all revenues or financial interests of any kind received by the center as a result of said intellectual property agreements shall be placed, in their entirety, in the fund.(3) to adopt an official seal;(4) to maintain offices within the commonwealth as it may determine and to conduct meetings of the center in accordance with the by-laws of the center and the second paragraph of section 59 of chapter 156B;(5) to sue and be sued, to prosecute and defend actions relating to its properties and affairs and to be liable in tort in the same manner as a private person; provided, however, that the center is not authorized to become a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code;(6) to appoint officers and employees and to engage consultants, agents and advisors;[ Clause (7) of subsection (a) effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.](7) to enter into contracts and agreements and execute all instruments necessary or convenient thereto for accomplishing the purposes of this chapter; provided, however, that such contracts and agreements may include, without limiting the foregoing, construction agreements, purchase or acquisition agreements, loan or lease agreements, partnership agreements including limited partnership agreements, joint ventures, participation agreements, service agreements with clean energy entities, environmental, educational or other financial institutions or intermediaries and agreements with 1 or more persons for the servicing of loans made by the center, including the receipt by such servicer of payments made by a user under a financing document and provided further, that any such payments shall constitute trust funds to be held and applied solely as provided in such agreement for the servicing of loans, shall constitute pledged funds of the center and shall be entitled to the same protection when received by a person for the servicing of loans, without the need for filing and recording of the servicing agreement under chapter 106 or otherwise, except in the records of the center, as is afforded to funds received by an issuer and pledged to a trustee under section 14 of chapter 40D;[ Subsection (7) of subsection (a) as amended by 2024, 238, Sec. 82 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.](7) to enter into contracts and agreements and execute all instruments necessary or convenient thereto for accomplishing the purposes of this chapter; provided, however, that such contracts and agreements may include, without limiting the foregoing, construction agreements, purchase or acquisition agreements, loan or lease agreements, partnership agreements including limited partnership agreements, joint ventures, participation agreements, service agreements with climatetech entities, environmental, educational or other financial institutions or intermediaries and agreements with 1 or more persons for the servicing of loans made by the center, including the receipt by such servicer of payments made by a user under a financing document and provided further, that any such payments shall constitute trust funds to be held and applied solely as provided in such agreement for the servicing of loans, shall constitute pledged funds of the center and shall be entitled to the same protection when received by a person for the servicing of loans, without the need for filing and recording of the servicing agreement under chapter 106 or otherwise, except in the records of the center, as is afforded to funds received by an issuer and pledged to a trustee under section 14 of chapter 40D;(8) to acquire real and personal property, or any interest in real or personal property, by gift, purchase, transfer, foreclosure, lease or otherwise including rights or easements; to hold, sell, assign, lease, encumber, mortgage or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property, or any interest therein, or mortgage any interest owned by it or under its control, custody or in its possession; to release or relinquish any right, title, claim, lien, interest, easement or demand however acquired, including any equity or right of redemption in property foreclosed by it; to take assignments of leases and rentals, proceed with foreclosure actions or take any other actions necessary or incidental to the performance of its corporate purposes including, but not limited to, making, or delegating to a lessee or a licensee to make, improvements or alterations to the real property of the center, or any interest thereon or engage in construction on or renovation at such property or interest;[ Clause (9) of subsection (a) effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.](9) to invest funds held in reserves or sinking funds, or the Massachusetts Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Trust Fund, or funds not required for immediate disbursement, in such investments as may be provided in a financing document relating to the use of such funds, or, if not so provided, as the board may determine;[ Clause (9) of subsection (a) as amended by 2024, 238, Sec. 83 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.](9) to invest funds held in reserves or sinking funds, or the Massachusetts Alternative and Climatetech Investment Trust Fund, or funds not required for immediate disbursement, in such investments as may be provided in a financing document relating to the use of such funds, or, if not so provided, as the board may determine;[ Clause (10) of subsection (a) effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.](10) to review and recommend changes in laws, rules, programs and policies of the commonwealth and its agencies and subdivisions to further the enhancement of clean energy financing, infrastructure, siting, manufacturing and development within the commonwealth;[ Clause (10) of subsection (a) as amended by 2024, 238, Sec. 82 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.](10) to review and recommend changes in laws, rules, programs and policies of the commonwealth and its agencies and subdivisions to further the enhancement of climatetech financing, infrastructure, siting, manufacturing and development within the commonwealth;(11) to appear on its own behalf before boards, commissions, departments or other agencies of municipal, state or federal government;(12) to obtain insurance;(13) to apply for and accept subventions, grants, loans, advances and contributions from any source of money, property, labor or other things of value, to be held, used and applied for its corporate purposes; provided, however, that the center shall not accept funding from any source, including any federal agency, if the receipt of said funding would limit the center's ability to promote its public purposes; and provided further, that all such funds shall be placed, in their entirety, in the fund;[ Clause (14) of subsection (a) effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.](14) to enter into agreements with public and private entities that deal primarily with clean energy technologies, in order to distribute and provide leveraging of monies or services for the purposes of furthering research and development, aiding in the promotion of environmental protection, creating jobs in clean energy and promoting overall economic growth by fostering collaboration and investments in clean energy in the commonwealth;[ Clause (14) of subsection (a) as amended by 2024, 238, Sec. 82 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.](14) to enter into agreements with public and private entities that deal primarily with climatetech technologies, in order to distribute and provide leveraging of monies or services for the purposes of furthering research and development, aiding in the promotion of environmental protection, creating jobs in climatetech and promoting overall economic growth by fostering collaboration and investments in climatetech in the commonwealth;(15) to provide and pay for such advisory services and technical assistance as may be necessary or desired to carry out the purposes of this chapter;(16) to establish and collect such fees and charges as the center without further appropriation shall determine to be reasonable, and to receive and apply revenues from fees and charges to the purposes of the center or allotment by the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof; provided, however, that all said revenues shall be placed, in their entirety, in the fund;(17) to make loans to any person for the acquisition, construction, alteration or any combination thereof, or other financing of a project including, but not limited to, loans to lending institutions under terms and conditions requiring the proceeds of such loans to be used by such lending institutions for the making of loans to users for qualified projects;[ Clauses (18) and (19) of subsection (a) effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.](18) to disburse, appropriate, grant, loan or allocate funds for the purposes of investing in clean energy as directed in this chapter;(19) to provide assistance to local entities and authorities, public bodies and private corporations for the purposes of maximizing opportunities for expanding clean energy technologies, attracting new clean energy entities and advanced technology investments, fostering new innovative research and creating new manufacturing and development initiatives in the commonwealth;[ Clauses (18) and (19) of subsection (a) as amended by 2024, 238, Sec. 82 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.](18) to disburse, appropriate, grant, loan or allocate funds for the purposes of investing in climatetech as directed in this chapter;(19) to provide assistance to local entities and authorities, public bodies and private corporations for the purposes of maximizing opportunities for expanding climatetech technologies, attracting new climatetech entities and advanced technology investments, fostering new innovative research and creating new manufacturing and development initiatives in the commonwealth;(20) to prepare, publish and distribute, with or without charge, as the center may determine, such studies, reports and bulletins and other material as the center deems appropriate;(21) to exercise any other powers of a corporation organized under chapter 156B;(22) to engage accountants, architects, attorneys, engineers, planners, real estate experts and other consultants as may be necessary in its judgment to carry out the purposes of this act and to fix their compensation;(23) to take any actions necessary or convenient to the exercise of any power or the discharge of any duty provided for by this chapter;(24) to enter into agreements or other transactions with any person, including without limitation any public entity or other governmental instrumentality or agency in connection with its powers and duties under this chapter;[ Clause (25) of subsection (a) effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.](25) to make qualified investments to ensure the success of clean energy industry clusters;[ Clause (25) of subsection (a) as amended by 2024, 238, Sec. 82 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.](25) to make qualified investments to ensure the success of climatetech industry clusters;[ Clause (26) of subsection (a) effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.](26) to institute and administer the Massachusetts Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Trust Fund for the purposes of making appropriations, allocations, grants or loans to leverage development and investments in clean energy research, workforce training and job creation; provided, however, that the center shall implement an application and grant process for these purposes;[ Clause (26) of subsection (a) as amended by 2024, 238, Secs. 82 and 83 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.](26) to institute and administer the Massachusetts Alternative and Climatetech Investment Trust Fund for the purposes of making appropriations, allocations, grants or loans to leverage development and investments in climatetech research, workforce training and job creation; provided, however, that the center shall implement an application and grant process for these purposes;[ Clause (27) of subsection (a) effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.](27) to promote programs and investments that lead to pathways towards economic self-sufficiency for low and moderate-income individuals and communities in the clean energy industry;[ Clause (27) of subsection (a) as amended by 2024, 238, Sec. 82 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.](27) to promote programs and investments that lead to pathways towards economic self-sufficiency for low and moderate-income individuals and communities in the climatetech industry;(28) to research and establish, if the center so chooses, the Massachusetts Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Institute, to be housed at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and to serve as a joint venture among institutes of higher education in the commonwealth providing a focal point for research, education and commercialization activities in the hydrogen fuel cell sector; provided, however, that said institute responsibilities may include, but not be limited to: (i) working with the University of Massachusetts and private higher education institutions in the commonwealth to coordinate and strengthen hydrogen and fuel cell research activities in the commonwealth; (ii) strengthening collaborative research and development between universities and companies located within the commonwealth; (iii) addressing critical technological barriers facing the hydrogen and fuel cell companies; (iv) strengthening existing educational programs and introducing new curriculum in Massachusetts universities to produce graduates who are conversant in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies; and (5) promoting partnerships between Massachusetts universities and companies to jointly demonstrate hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and attract greater amounts of federal funding to the commonwealth;(29) to allocate, if the center so chooses, up to $2 million annually for 5 years for the Massachusetts Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Institute; provided, however, that said funding shall begin in the fiscal year that said institute shall be established and shall end in the fifth fiscal year following the establishment of said institute;[ Clause (30) of subsection (a) effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.](30) to establish, if the center so chooses, a program to be known as the entrepreneurial fellowship program, which shall award grants to entrepreneurs from business sectors other than clean energy sectors to enroll in programs to foster knowledge and expertise of clean energy technology; provided, however, that the clean energy technology programs shall be based upon intensive technology, market and policy curriculum and; provided, further, that the center shall establish public-private partnerships and enter into contribution agreements with commonwealth-based companies and venture capitalists to support programs designed to mentor and train entrepreneurs from other business sectors in the areas of clean energy technology and development to increase investment in the commonwealth's clean energy sector; and[ Clause (30) of subsection (a) as amended by 2024, 238, Sec. 82 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.](30) to establish, if the center so chooses, a program to be known as the entrepreneurial fellowship program, which shall award grants to entrepreneurs from business sectors other than climatetech sectors to enroll in programs to foster knowledge and expertise of climatetech technology; provided, however, that the climatetech technology programs shall be based upon intensive technology, market and policy curriculum and; provided, further, that the center shall establish public-private partnerships and enter into contribution agreements with commonwealth-based companies and venture capitalists to support programs designed to mentor and train entrepreneurs from other business sectors in the areas of climatetech technology and development to increase investment in the commonwealth's climatetech sector; and(31) to administer the trust fund in accordance with section 9.(32) to serve as a focal point, and provide state-wide coordination, for offshore wind initiatives; provided, that said responsibilities shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) working with public and private higher education institutions in the commonwealth to coordinate and strengthen offshore wind research activities in the commonwealth; (ii) strengthening collaborative research and development between higher education institutions and companies located within the commonwealth; (iii) addressing critical barriers facing offshore wind companies in the commonwealth; (iv) assessing and reporting on infrastructure requirements that support the growing offshore wind industry in the commonwealth; (v) supporting the growth of an offshore wind supply chain in the commonwealth; (vi) supporting and developing offshore wind training initiatives; and (vii) supporting and growing offshore wind innovation and entrepreneurship in the commonwealth.[ There is no subsection (b).]