Salem Seeks “Green Community” Designation

The Salem Gazette reported that Salem, MA is looking to seek the Commonwealth’s “Green Community” designation, which could provide access to $10 million reserved for eco-friendly communities that adopt at least five core criteria specified by the Department of Energy Resources:

1. Purchasing only fuel-efficient vehicles
2. Adopting an expedited permit application process for energy facilities
3. Establishing a benchmark for energy use and reducing that number by 20% within 5 years
4. Offering siting considerations for energy manufacturing or research facilities
5. Adopting a new Board of Building Regulations and Standards Stretch Code.

The so-called stretch code requirement –- a stricter building code for energy conservation –- may prove to be the most challenging for any municipality undertaking the process to become a Green Community.  Typically, Massachusetts building codes are established at the state level and there’s no ability for a local jurisdiction to supersede that. But in this case, the state is allowing local adoption of a stricter building code.

No city/town has yet earned the “Green Community” designation.

Read the entire Salem Gazette article.