Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Nearly $7 Million in Green Communities Grants

Boston — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today awarded nearly $7 million to cities and towns across Massachusetts to fund energy efficiency and clean energy projects. The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) selected 43 municipalities to receive Green Communities competitive grants.

With today’s announcement, DOER will have awarded more than $205 million to Green Communities in Designation Grants and Competitive Grants since 2010 to help reduce municipal energy costs by over $30 million annually and reduce pollution.

“These 43 cities and towns are proving smart, forward-looking investments in clean energy deliver real returns for the communities they serve,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These projects reduce long-term energy use, lower operating costs, and cut pollution – freeing up resources that can be reinvested. We’re proud of the work Green Communities do every day to advance local clean energy goals and strengthen their economies.”

The proposed projects are expected to save about $583,283 each year in energy costs. Annual energy savings of 19,916 MMBtus are equivalent to the energy use of 226 Massachusetts households. These projects also cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1,192 metric tons annually, which is roughly equivalent to taking more than 259 gas-powered cars off the road.

“These grants will help 43 communities upgrade municipal buildings and fleets to clean, modern technologies and free up municipal budgets for crucial local services,” said DOER Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. “DOER is proud to support municipal clean energy and decarbonization projects all over Massachusetts with more than $200 million since 2010. We’re delighted to help active Green Communities meet their local climate and energy goals.”

Cities and towns will use grant funding for a variety of projects designed to reduce energy use and costs in their municipal operations. Eligible projects include installing high-efficiency lighting and building weatherization, upgrading to energy management systems, facility retro-commissioning to improve building performance, and transitioning HVAC systems away from fossil fuels by installing air- or ground-source heat pumps.

Several communities highlighted how the grants will be used locally:

• Webster will complete an LED lighting retrofit project at the Park Avenue Elementary School, saving the town over $37,000 a year in electricity costs and providing an enhanced learning environment.
• East Longmeadow will update a building management system, install weatherstripping, and add hybrid rooftop heating and cooling units at the library, resulting in more than $21,000 in annual savings and solving persistent heating and cooling issues at the building.
• Somerville will retrofit Dillboy Stadium with state-of-the art LED lighting, which will cut annual lighting costs by $64,000 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 44 tons a year.

The following municipalities were awarded grants:

Additional information on awarded projects and funding amounts can be found on DOER’s website.

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