Baker-Polito Administration Awards $13 Million in Green Communities Grants

103 Communities Receive Funds for Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Projects

 

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today awarded $13,000,558 in Green Communities competitive grants to 103 municipalities across Massachusetts to fund clean energy projects. With today’s announcement, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has awarded over $136 million to Green Communities in Designation Grants and Competitive Grants since 2010.

 “The Green Communities program continues to make significant progress in helping municipalities reduce their carbon footprint and save on energy costs,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration is committed to supporting clean energy and energy efficiency efforts that make the Commonwealth’s cities and towns cleaner, healthier, and more affordable places to live.”

“As we work to meet our net zero by 2050 emissions goals, the Green Communities program gives our dedicated municipal partners the resources they need to continue making progress in increasing energy efficiency and lowering energy costs,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We look forward to seeing the continued growth in energy innovation and energy savings that these grants will enable in towns and cities across the Commonwealth.”

 Under the Green Communities Act, cities and towns must meet five criteria to be designated a Green Community and receive funding. 271 Massachusetts cities and towns have earned the Green Communities designation, which accounts for 84 percent of the Commonwealth’s population.

This ninth annual round of DOER Green Communities competitive grants is awarded to existing Green Communities that have successfully invested their initial designation grants and previous competitive grant awards. The grants provide financial support for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that further the designated communities’ clean energy goals. Grants are capped at $200,000 per municipality. Funding for these grants is available through proceeds from carbon allowance auctions under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

“The Green Communities program helps cities and towns make important investments at the local level to combat climate change by reducing emissions,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Air-source heat pumps, ventilation system upgrades, and electric vehicle charging stations are just some of the exciting new projects that these grants will fund in order to increase energy efficiency and clean energy innovation in municipalities across the state.”

 “Municipalities play a crucial role in achieving the Governor’s ambitious net zero by 2050 emissions target,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Patrick Woodcock. “Today’s announcement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both the Green Communities team and the many hardworking and dedicated municipal partners across the state who successfully implement these projects that lower energy costs and provide long-term greenhouse gas savings.”

The grants announced today fund a range of projects from ventilation system upgrades and high efficiency lighting to the installation of insulation and energy management systems at municipal buildings and facilities. Also included are the installations of air-source heat pumps, hybrid police cruisers, and electric vehicle charging stations.

The following municipalities received grant awards:

Acton	$99,411	Hopkinton	$196,521	Salem	$76,872
Acushnet	$153,358	Lancaster	$200,000	Scituate	$198,341
Agawam	$177,396	Leicester	$200,000	Shrewsbury	$184,302
Amesbury	$84,131	Leominster	$68,490	Somerville	$99,605
Amherst	$125,998	Leverett	$17,192	Southborough	$200,000
Andover	$146,770	Lexington	$81,419	Springfield	$200,000
Arlington	$100,000	Lincoln	$53,715	Stockbridge	$13,053
Ashburnham	$10,620	Littleton	$200,000	Stoneham	$200,000
Ashland	$71,021	Lunenburg	$69,361	Stoughton	$195,554
Athol	$22,036	Malden	$165,365	Stow	$70,697
Auburn	$68,020	Marion	$120,238	Sturbridge	$176,918
Becket	$31,600	Marshfield	$200,000	Sudbury	$96,686
Beverly	$62,535	Mashpee	$200,000	Tewksbury	$68,382
Blackstone	$38,340	Maynard	$38,533	Tisbury	$63,621
Blandford	$110,764	Medfield	$139,316	Uxbridge	$200,000
Boxford	$200,000	Medway	$152,488	Ware	$198,339
Canton	$200,000	Merrimac	$200,000	Warren	$22,102
Chelmsford	$100,000	Millbury	$179,150	Warwick	$86,564
Chelsea	$200,000	Millis	$183,582	Wayland	$150,827
Cohasset	$138,192	Millville	$122,404	Wellesley	$137,920
Dalton	$30,030	Milton	$81,898	Wellfleet	$137,761
Dartmouth	$200,000	Natick	$100,000	Wenham	$133,923
Deerfield	$165,754	New Braintree	$173,109	West Boylston	$105,376
Dudley	$191,170	New Salem	$35,000	West Newbury	$75,815
Duxbury	$161,106	Newburyport	$200,000	West Tisbury	$12,500
Framingham	$200,000	Newton	$100,000	Westborough	$153,876
Franklin	$30,000	North Andover	$125,686	Westfield	$168,740
Gardner	$17,896	Northbridge	$164,274	Westford	$95,000
Gill	$53,400	Northfield	$162,303	Weston	$199,999
Granby	$195,175	Pepperell	$167,129	Westwood	$100,000
Great_Barrington	$163,725	Provincetown	$138,350	Weymouth	$194,661
Hamilton	$112,816	Quincy	$200,000	Whitman	$9,000
Hanover	$93,864	Revere	$173,602	Winchester	$100,000
Holliston	$173,701	Rockland	$52,719	Woburn	$100,000
		Rockport	$183,454

 

 

All Green Communities commit to reducing municipal energy consumption by 20 percent over five years. These commitments amount to collective savings of 2,534,787 MMBtu, energy use equivalent to heating and powering nearly 20,000 homes and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 233,640 tons, equivalent to taking over 45,000 cars off the road.