• Green Communities Designation and Grant Program

    map of 86 designated communities The Green Communities Designation and Grant Program has helped 86 cities and towns earn Green Community designation. As energy leaders in Massachusetts, they were able to seek state grants. More than $15 million dollars from those Green Community grants is already at work in 74 communities, with another $2,000,000 worth of energy projects about to have an impact in the newest twelve designated communities. Green Communities staff continues to work with scores of other local government entities on an array of energy activities: from reducing energy use in municipal and school buildings, to establishing power purchase agreements that enable financially attractive renewable energy generation, to adopting the latest building codes, and much more.

  • Program Guidelines and Application Process with associated timelines:

    Green Communities Program Guidance Spring 2012 pdf format of GC Program Guidance Spring 2012

    MLP Guideline May 2012 pdf format of MLP Guideline May 2012


  • A city or town must meet these five criteria to be designated a Green Community

    Select each Criterion below for more information:

  • Criterion 1

    Provide as-of-right siting in designated locations for renewable/alternative energy generation, research & development, or manufacturing facilities.

  • Criterion 2

    Adopt an expedited application and permit process for as-of-right energy facilities.

  • Criterion 3

    Establish an energy use baseline and develop a plan to reduce energy use by twenty percent (20%) within five (5) years.

  • Criterion 4

    Purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles.

  • Criterion 5

    Set requirements to minimize life-cycle energy costs for new construction; one way to meet these requirements is to adopt the new Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) Stretch Code.

  • Green Communities new guidance on Prezi