North Shore Towns Amongst 35 Massachusetts “Green” Communities

The Boston Globe reports that Governor Deval Patrick designated 4 North Shore cities/towns amongst the 35 first official “Green Communities”, making them eligible for $8.1 million in grants for local renewable power and energy-efficiency projects.  In order to qualify, cities/towns must meet five clean energy goals, including:

• Adopting local zoning bylaws to encourage and speed up permitting for renewable energy projects
• Purchasing only fuel-efficient vehicles for their municipal fleet whenever possible
• Requiring all new residential construction over 3,000 square feet, as well as all new commercial and industrial real estate construction, to save energy by adopting new building codes.

Green Communities are eligible for millions in local aid under the 2008 Green Communities Act; they include Acton, Arlington, Athol, Andover, Becket, Belchertown, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Easthampton, Greenfield, Hamilton, Hanover, Holyoke, Hopkinton, Kingston, Lancaster, Lenox, Lexington, Lincoln, Lowell, Mashpee, Medford, Melrose, Montague, Natick, Newton, Northampton, Palmer, Pittsfield, Salem, Springfield, Sudbury, Tyngsborough, Wenham, and Worcester.

The communities’ deadline to apply for a piece of the $8 million is June 4; the grants will be awarded in late June.  Each community will also receive a Big Belly solar waste compactor to be delivered in time for the summer parks and beaches season.

Read the entire Boston Globe article.