Climate Resilience Planning

Green Communities

SRPEDD assists cities and towns in becoming designated Green Communities, completing required annual reporting, developing applications for Green Communities Competitive Grants, and administering Green Communities Grants.

About Green Communities

The Green Community Designation and Grant Program provides a road map along with financial and technical support to municipalities that 1) pledge to cut municipal energy use by an ambitious and achievable goal of 20 percent over 5 years and 2) meet four other criteria established in the Green Communities Act. Participation in the Program has grown steadily since the first group of 35 municipalities achieved designation status in July of 2010 to include 210 cities and towns in the Commonwealth and approximately 68% of the population. The benefits of designation extend beyond the Program itself, inspiring cities and towns to undertake additional energy-related initiatives, improve coordination between municipal staff and departments, and increase messaging with the general public about energy-related issues and actions. To date, designated Green Communities have been awarded more than $39 million for energy projects.

Congratulations to Fairhaven and Plainville, who applied for and were successfully awarded Green Communities Competitive Grants in the Fall 2023 application cycle!!

Communities

SRPEDD is working with the following communities to assist them with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Green Communities Designation and Grant Program:

Municipality	Designation Year	Status	Grant awards to date	SRPEDD Contact
Acushnet	2013	Spring 24 Grant Eligible	$1,023,231	Michelle Tinger
Carver	2020	Spring 24 Grant Eligible	$517,845	Michelle Tinger
Dighton	2018	Spring 24 Grant Eligible	$212,149	Danica Belknap
Fairhaven	2018	Active Competitive Grant	$481,450	Lauren Carpenter
Mansfield	2022	Active Designation Grant	$165,000	Danica Belknap
Marion	2018	Active Competitive Grant	$540,898	Michelle Tinger
Middleborough	2017	Active Competitive Grant	$543,622	Lauren Carpenter
North Attleborough	2020	Active Competitive Grant	$366,613	Michelle Tinger
Norton	2021	Active Designation Grant	$173,321	Danica Belknap
Plainville	2017	Active Competitive Grant	$687,913	Audrey Matthews
Rehoboth	2020	Spring 24 Grant Eligible	$346,947	Audrey Matthews
Seekonk	2018	Spring 24 Grant Eligible	$220,884	Audrey Matthews

Energy Reduction Plans

Acushnet - click here to explore Acushnet Energy Reduction Plan
Carver - click here to explore Carver Energy Reduction Plan
Dighton - click here to explore Dighton Energy Reduction Plan
Fairhaven - click here to explore Fairhaven Energy Reduction Plan
Mansfield - click here to explore Mansfield Energy Reduction Plan
Marion - click here to explore Marion Energy Reduction Plan
Middleborough - click here to explore Middleborough Energy Reduction Plan
North Attleborough - click here to explore North Attleborough Energy Reduction Plan
Norton - click here to explore Norton Energy Reduction Plan
Plainville - click here to explore Plainville Energy Reduction Plan
Rehoboth - click here to explore Rehoboth Energy Reduction Plan
Seekonk - click here to explore Seekonk Energy Reduction Plan

Requirements

Requirements for Becoming Designated as a Green Community

To become a designated Green Community, a municipality must complete all five of the criteria listed below:

Criterion 1: As-of-Right Siting – Renewable Energy/Alternative Energy

A municipality must provide zoning in designated locations for the as-of-right siting for one of the following:
1. renewable or alternative energy generating facilities, OR
2. renewable or alternative energy research and development (R&D) facilities, OR
3. renewable or alternative energy manufacturing facilities

Criterion 2: Expedited Permitting

A municipality must adopt an expedited application and permitting process under which Criterion 1 facilities may be sited within the municipality, and the permitting process shall not exceed one (1) year from the date of initial application to the date of final approval.

Criterion 3: Energy Baseline / 20 Percent Energy Reduction Plan

A municipality must establish an energy use baseline inventory for all municipal buildings (which includes school buildings, drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations and open spaces), vehicles, and street and traffic lighting. A municipality must also adopt a comprehensive five-year Energy Reduction Plan (ERP) designed to reduce that baseline by 20 percent after completion of a full five-years of implementing its ERP.

Criterion 4: Purchase Only Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

All Departments in the municipality must purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use whenever such vehicles are commercially available and practicable.

Criterion 5: Minimize Life-Cycle Costs

A municipality must require all new residential construction over 3,000 square feet and all new commercial and industrial real estate construction to minimize, to the extent feasible, the life cycle cost of facilities/buildings by utilizing energy efficiency, water conservation and other renewable or alternative energy technologies.

The recommended way for cities and towns to meet this requirement is by adopting the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) Stretch Code (780 CMR 115.AA), an appendix to the MA State Building Code.

Benefits & Resources

Benefits

Cut municipal energy costs and strengthen the local economies.
Access grants for clean affordable and resilient energy projects; economic development benefits for the city or town and the Commonwealth.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Promote energy-efficient building construction that drives the market for better built and lower cost homes.
Foster renewable energy and clean energy technologies.
Become a clean energy leader and a better place to live, work, and play.