NSR Communities Receive Green Community Competitive Grants

The Baker-Polito Administration announced that Green Community competitive grants were awarded to Beverly, Georgetown, and Swampscott. Please see the total grant awards below:

• Beverly: $500,000
• Georgetown: $71,944
• Swampscott: $61,626

The grants, which were awarded to 47 other Massachusetts communities, will fund community efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Eligible projects include:

• Acquisition of hybrid or electric municipal vehicles
• Electric vehicle charging stations
• Ventilation system upgrades, weatherization and decarbonization of municipal buildings and facilities
• Support building electrification projects

As a reminder, to be a designated Green Community, cities and towns must meet the following criteria:

• Passed zoning in designated locations for the as-of-right siting of renewable or alternative energy generating facilities, research and development facilities, or manufacturing facilities
• Adopt an expedited application and permitting of one year at most, for renewable energy facilities
• Establish an energy use baseline inventory for municipal buildings and facilities
• Adopt an Energy Reduction Plan (ERP) demonstrating a reduction of 20 percent of energy use after five years of implementation.
• Adopt a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Policy requiring all municipal departments and divisions to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles
• Adopt the Stretch Code, creating more stringent energy efficiency standards for new construction