For Immediate Release - June 28, 2012

Patrick-Murray Administration Presents First Ever Green Communities Competitive Grants to 19 Communities

Map of Green Communities Statewide

BOSTON – Thursday, June 28, 2012 – Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan and Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Mark Sylvia today awarded $2.8 million in grants to fund 55 clean energy projects in 19 communities across the Commonwealth.

This first round of DOER Green Communities Competitive Grants are awarded to existing Green Communities that have successfully invested their initial designation grants.  Awards are capped at $250,000 per municipality.

“The clean energy revolution sweeping Massachusetts is happening largely because of the bold steps and smart decisions made at the local level," said Secretary Sullivan, whose office includes DOER. “I am pleased we are able to offer funding to allow these 19 communities to continue the good work they’ve begun.”   

The grants, totaling $2,756,494, are funded through proceeds from Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP) received from retail electricity suppliers under the Commonwealth’s Renewable and Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard programs. The goal of the Green Communities Competitive Grant program is to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that further the clean energy goals of previously-designated Green Communities. The projects range from upgrades to ventilation systems and lighting to installation of insulation and energy management systems at municipal buildings and facilities.

“The cities and towns receiving these awards have already shown outstanding clean energy leadership – first by doing the work to become Green Communities and then by carrying out important energy efficiency and renewable energy projects funded through their initial grants,” said Commissioner Sylvia.

“The projects funded through this new grant round will help them to make even further progress toward energy independence while locking in long-term savings for local taxpayers.”  

There are 86 Green Communities across the state and 42 percent of Massachusetts residents - 2.7 million people - live in Green Communities. All of the 86 Green Communities committed to reduce their municipal energy consumption by 20 percent.  This commitment collectively equates to the annual energy consumption of more than 13,000 Massachusetts homes and the greenhouse gases from more than 16,800 cars. 

“Western Massachusetts – and Pittsfield in particular – continues to lead the way in statewide renewable energy goals, thanks to the strides the City is taking to increase its energy efficiency and conservation efforts,” said Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, Sentate Chairman of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. “I am very pleased that the Administration is helping to advance the Lichtenstein Art Center gas conversion project by providing this Green Communities grant assistance.”

“Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency, and our Green Communities Program is at the forefront of that effort,” said Rep. John Keenan, House Chairman of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. “I commend these cities and towns for pursuing green projects as we strive to create green jobs, reduce our energy consumption and support local renewable energy generation.”

DOER’s Green Communities Division awarded funding for the following projects:

Acton – $141,498

  • $35,704           RJ Grey School demand control ventilation
  • $40,554           RJ Grey School reset unit ventilator controls
  • $17,540           RJ Grey School replace caulking
  • $2,640             RJ Grey School boiler and rooftop unit recommissioning
  • $3,285             Douglas, Gates and Conant Schools boiler reset
  • $16,415           Douglas School caulking
  • $12,680           Gates School caulking
  • $12,680           Conant School caulking

Andover – $220,599

  • $11,825           Public Safety Center retro-commissioning (an energy efficiency building tune-up)
  •  $10,794          Memorial Hall Library retro-commissioning
  • $8,170             Memorial Hall Library demand control ventilation
  • $13,618           Town Offices retro-commissioning
  • $17,866           Andover High School retro-commissioning
  • $86,426           Andover High School demand control ventilation
  • $66,000           Andover West Middle School demand control ventilation
  • $5,900             Andover Town House retro-commissioning

Arlington – $250,000

  • $218,890.50    Arlington High School HVAC upgrades
  • $31,109.50      Other Arlington Schools variable frequency drives installation

Cambridge $183,441

  • Peabody School  HVAC and energy management system upgrades

Greenfield – $40,000

  • Low-moderate income residential energy efficiency program

Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District – $81,525

  • $57,525           HS/Middle School Complex variable frequency drive upgrade
  • $8,000             Buker Elementary School kitchen ventilation upgrade
  • $8,000             Cutler Elementary School kitchen ventilation upgrade
  • $8,000             Winthrop Elementary School kitchen ventilation upgrade

Holyoke – $171,800

  • Exhibit Hall/Children’s Museum energy system upgrades

Hopkinton – $156,792

  • $71,539     Town Hall energy management system
  • $85,253     Elmwood School energy management system

Kingston – $199,489

  • $189,500         Elementary School high-efficiency condensing boiler
  • $9,989             Public Library exterior LED pole-top lighting

Lowell – $123,574

  • $24,315           McAuliffe Elementary School variable frequency drives/pumps
  • $26,349           Butler Middle School variable frequency drives/pumps
  • $22,280           Lincoln Elementary School variable frequency drives/pumps
  • $43,336           Department of Public Works garage quick close curtains
  • $7,294             Project administrative costs

Lincoln – $249,845

  • $10,000           Electric vehicle
  • $31,500           Public Safety Department energy management system
  • $12,480           Public Safety Department heat pump
  • $17,865           Public Safety Department wall insulation
  • $81,000           Hartwell School energy management system
  • $90,000           Bemis School high-efficiency boiler and steam conversion
  • $7,000             Project administrative costs

Mashpee – $13,500

  • $2,000             Town Hall air leakage control
  • $2,450             KC Coombs School air sealing and insulation
  • $9,050             Installation of photo cell lighting controls at Town Hall and schools

Medford – $250,000

  • $215,221         Chevalier Theatre heating system conversion
  • $11,801           Chevalier Theatre domestic hot water separation
  • $4,505             Chevalier Theatre steam lines insulation
  • $8,482             Chevalier Theatre team trap survey and repairs
  • $9,991             Project administrative costs

Montague – $72,062

  • $14,062           Water Pollution Control Facility building envelope
  • $58,000           Water Pollution Control Facility RAS pump variable frequency drive

Northampton – $98,000

  • $61,000           Academy of Music insulation and air sealing
  • $37,000           Memorial Hall insulation and air sealing

Pittsfield – $92,787

  • Lichtenstein Art Center gas conversion

Springfield – $161,582

  • $50,245          Point Library energy management system
  • $50,000          Point Library boilers and indirect water tank
  • $61,337          Balliet Middle School energy management system

Sudbury – $250,000

  • Fairbank Community Center HVAC/Heat recovery ventilation

Through programs like the Green Communities program, Massachusetts has increased solar installations 30-fold since Governor Deval Patrick took office – increasing from 3.5 megawatts (MW) in 2007 to 110 MW installed today. The amount of wind energy installed has jumped from 3.1 MW installed in 2007 to over 59 MW today. Governor Patrick has set statewide goals of 250 MW of solar power by 2017 and 2,000 MW of wind power by 2020.

The Green Communities Act, which created DOER’s Green Communities Designation and Grant program, was cited by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as a primary reason for ACEEE’s 2011 ranking of Massachusetts as first in the nation for  its energy efficiency policies and programs, moving California out of the top spot for the first time since the ranking was first published four years ago. ACEEE’s October report pointed to the effectiveness of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s integrated approach to creating jobs, helping clean energy businesses thrive, improving energy security and lowering energy costs, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Massachusetts sits at the end of the energy pipeline, lacking indigenous fossil fuel sources and spending $22 billion each year to run power plants, fuel vehicles and businesses, and heat buildings. Of that sum, Massachusetts spends 80 percent on foreign energy sources from Canada, South America and the Middle East. That’s nearly $18 billion in lost economic opportunity that Massachusetts stands poised to reclaim through investments in home-grown renewable energy and energy efficiency such as those supported by Green Communities grants.

Click here for more information on DOER's Green Communities program.

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