Western Mass. was well represented among the 35 towns and cities named last week by the Patrick administration as “Green Communities”—a designation that will now allow them to compete for a pot of $8.1 million in funds earmarked for environmental projects.
The list included Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton, Greenfield, Belchertown, Easthampton, Pittsfield, Palmer, Becket, Athol, Montague and Lenox. To get the designation, the communities had to meet a list of standards, set by the Mass. Department of Energy Resources’ Green Communities Division, including conducting energy audits of municipal buildings and developing a plan to reduce energy use by 20 percent in five years, committing to buying fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use, and creating zoning rules favorable to renewable- and alternative-energy enterprises.
In addition, they needed to adopt a so-called “stretch” building code, which includes strict energy-efficiency standards—a provision that has met with strong resistance from some business groups, including, locally, the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Western Mass. and the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield. (See “Green Rush,” April 29, 2010.)
The successful communities had to adopt all the state provisions by May 14 in order to be eligible for the green grants. While other communities can still apply for the designation in the next fiscal year, many were eager to make it in during this round, which would allow them to compete against a smaller pool of fellow applicants. The grants—which could be as large as $1 million apiece—must be used for “local renewable power and energy efficiency projects,” according to last week’s announcement by the state. “The projects promise to create green jobs and advance both municipal and state clean energy goals.”
Municipalities have until June 4 to submit project proposals for funding. The grants will be awarded before the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.
