Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, in consultation with the commissioner of environmental protection, shall make recommendations for increasing small businesses’ access to energy efficiency grants and programs.  The recommendations shall, at a minimum, include: (i) proposed changes to existing programs to better aid small businesses with short-term leases in making energy efficient improvements to existing properties; (ii) proposed changes to other existing programs to suit the particular needs of small businesses; and (iii) proposals for new programs specifically aimed at small businesses.  The secretary shall file the recommendations as a report with the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate on or before January 15, 2018.