Massachusetts Offers Grant to 35 Green Communities

The state has awarded 35 municipalities across Massachusetts as leaders in clean energy, or “green communities.”  A city or town that receives this status is able to receive grants that can subsidize renewable energy, like wind and solar, and efficiency programs.  A total of $8.1 million in grants will be given out with  the intention of progressing clean energy goals and creating  green jobs.   The funds will be released on June 30th and then a second round of funds will be available after July 1st.

Green Communities Act of 2008 abides over the grant program, but the program is administered by the Department of Energy Resources.  Funding for the grants comes from the carbon emission permit auctions.

The Green Communities status is awarded to cities and towns in Massachusetts that meet five key goals including:

• Adopting local zoning bylaw or ordinance that allows “as-of-right-siting” of renewable energy projects;
• Adopting an expedited permitting process related to the as-of-right facilities;
• Establishing a municipal energy use baseline and a program designed to reduce use by 20 percent within five years;
• Purchasing only fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use, whenever such vehicles are commercially available and practicable; and
• Requiring all new residential construction over 3,000 square feet and all new commercial and industrial real estate construction to reduce life cycle energy costs (i.e., adoption of an energy-saving building “stretch code”).

“I am pleased to honor the vision and hard work of our first group of official Green Communities,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “These pioneers are notable not only for their commitment to a cleaner, greener Massachusetts, but also for their diversity. From tiny towns to major cities and suburbs in all regions of the state, Massachusetts communities recognize the benefits, for the economy as well as the environment, of making clean energy choices.”

When the program was first created, it was thought that only a dozen communities would receive this designation.  It is an amazing feat that 35 towns and cities were able to gain this status in the first round of funding.  It shows that the municipalities are serious about encouraging renewable and energy efficient technologies and I applaud each of their efforts.

The 35 communities included in this round of awards are: Acton, Arlington, Athol, Andover, Becket, Belchertown, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Easthampton, Greenfield, Hamilton, Hanover, Holyoke, Hopkinton, Kingston, Lancaster, Lenox, Lexington, Lincoln, Lowell, Mashpee, Medford, Melrose, Montague, Natick, Newton, Northampton, Palmer, Pittsfield, Salem, Springfield, Sudbury, Tyngsboro, and Wenham.