Necec
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NECEC is a Northeast clean energy business association helping clean energy companies start, scale and succeed.
Also known as NECEC Institute · New England Clean Energy Council · Northeast Clean Energy Council
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Company profile
researched Aug 2026NECEC (necec.org) is the Northeast Clean Energy Council, which together with the NECEC Institute operates as a regional business association for the clean energy industry in the Northeastern United States. Its stated mission is to create a clean energy hub delivering economic, energy and environmental solutions, and it positions itself as a voice for businesses building that hub in the Northeast. The organization convenes business leaders and other stakeholders for policy discussions and business initiatives, and works to influence policy on behalf of the regional clean energy sector.
Alongside its policy and convening work, NECEC supports early-stage companies. It manages Cleantech Open Northeast, the regional affiliate of the global Cleantech Open accelerator, which recruits pre-revenue cleantech and climatetech startups, matches each with a team of up to four mentors, and takes them through a curriculum covering customer discovery, go-to-market strategy, impact and sustainability planning, financial modeling, executive summaries and pitch decks, culminating in pitches to judges and showcases to investors, partners and customers. The accelerator also maintains ongoing alumni support, nominating graduates for grants and connecting them to resources. Cleantech Open Northeast works closely with the Greentown Labs incubator in the Greater Boston area, with a substantial overlap between accelerator alumni and Greentown member companies.
Founding story
The New England Clean Energy Council was formed in late 2006 when leaders in the Massachusetts clean energy industry identified a need for a regional business association to convene clean energy stakeholders focused on growing the state's and the region's clean energy economy. Its founder is identified as Mitch Tyson, with 2006 given as the year established.
Business model
NECEC operates as a membership-based business association and affiliated institute, bringing together member companies and stakeholders around policy advocacy, business initiatives and innovation programming, and running accelerator programming for early-stage companies as the regional affiliate of a not-for-profit accelerator network.
Traction
Between 2005 and 2019, Cleantech Open Northeast trained more than 450 early-stage clean technology startups through its annual accelerator. Sixty-eight percent of its alumni remained in business, having raised more than $650 million, created more than 3,300 clean economy jobs and generated more than $280 million in revenue. More than 50 startups are both Cleantech Open Northeast alumni and Greentown Labs members; cited examples of companies in the network include SparkCharge, Sistine Solar and Bevi.
Latest developments
Cleantech Open Northeast accepted applications for its 2021 cohort from January 15 to April 18, 2021, with the accelerator running from May to October, core programming from June to August, and delivery fully virtual owing to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.
▸Full profile — market position, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
NECEC describes itself as the premier voice of businesses building a clean energy hub in the Northeast. It is one of the pillars of the region's cleantech and climatetech innovation ecosystem alongside the Greentown Labs incubator, with which its Cleantech Open Northeast program shares a substantial number of participating startups.
Go-to-market
NECEC reaches its constituency through membership in the council, convening of business leaders and stakeholders for policy discussions and business initiatives, and by running the Cleantech Open Northeast accelerator, whose annual application rounds and showcase events connect startups with mentors, investors, partners and customers.
Clean energy and cleantech companies in the Northeast, ranging from early-stage and pre-revenue startups seeking accelerator support to established member businesses, along with policymakers and other clean energy stakeholders.
Geography
The organization originated in Massachusetts and the Greater Boston area and covers the Northeastern United States, including New England and New York State.
History
Founded in late 2006 as the New England Clean Energy Council, the organization broadened its geographic scope over time. In October 2015, reflecting increasing activity in New York State and a growing membership of companies operating in New York and across New England, it became the Northeast Clean Energy Council. NECEC became a ServiceCorps social sector partner in 2016. By 2021 it was managing Cleantech Open Northeast as the program's on-the-ground affiliate, with Beth Zonis serving as Director of Cleantech Open Northeast.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 3
launches, deals, and filingsCleantech Open Northeast, managed by NECEC as the on-the-ground affiliate, opened applications for its 2021 cohort from January 15 to April 18, 2021, with the program running May to October and core programming June to August, delivered virtually.
Reflecting expanded activity in New York State and a growing membership doing business across New York and New England, the organization changed its name to the Northeast Clean Energy Council.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- About the NECEC — New England Clean Energy Connectnecleanenergyconnect.org · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Necec do?
- NECEC is a Northeast clean energy business association helping clean energy companies start, scale and succeed.
- Who are Necec's investors?
- Necec's investors include Clean Energy Ventures.