Created in 2008 by the Green Communities Act, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), Green Communities Division provides guidance to municipalities throughout the Commonwealth on ways they can maximize energy efficiency and generate clean energy from renewable sources.
To assist cities and towns achieve their goals to decrease their energy usage, the DOER has extended a grant funding opportunity that will allow eligible municipalities to apply for a pool of funding. To become eligible to apply for a grant, a municipality must first demonstrate it has met the following five criteria (1. as of right siting; 2. expedited permitting; 3. energy use baseline and reduction plan; 4. fuel efficient vehicles; and 5. minimize the life cycle) and have been officially designated as a “Green Community.”
The City of Springfield has completed its application for Green Communities designation (see attached submission).
UPDATE: Springfield is one of eight Pioneer Valley communities, among the 35 cities and towns in the state, that qualified for portions of a new $8.1 million Green Communities pool of grants for energy efficiency upgrades. Read the story on MassLive.com >>
