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

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.