Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito recently announced $15 million in competitive grants to help 80 municipalities invest in clean energy projects through the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Green Communities Program.
Notes DOER Commissioner and NASEO Board member Judith Judson in the Baker-Polito Administration’s press release, “‘the Green Communities program is an important partnership with cities and towns to help them find clean energy solutions that reduce long-term energy costs and strengthen local economies. These grants represent another milestone for both the communities and the Commonwealth as we continue to collaborate to meet our shared energy goals.’”
These newly-designated “Green Communities” now have financial and technical support to reduce municipal energy use by 20 percent over five years, expand and streamline renewable energy development, deploy fuel-efficient and electric vehicles, and adopt “stretch codes” for newly constructed homes and buildings. Since the inception of the Green Communities Program in 2010, DOER has awarded nearly $100 million to over 200 Green Communities.