Massachusetts Green Communities Grant Program

The Green Communities Designation and Grant Program, an initiative of the Green Communities Division, works with municipalities toward qualification as a Green Community and provides funding to qualified municipalities for energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. By meeting five rigorous qualification criteria, a designated Green Community demonstrates a commitment to reducing energy consumption, pursuing clean renewable and alternative energy projects, and providing economic development in the clean energy sector. (Source: http://www.mass.gov)

Five Criteria we must fulfill to be designated a Green Community:
Criterion # 1: Provide as-of-right siting in designated locations for renewable/alternative energy generation, research & development, or manufacturing facilities
Criterion # 2: Adopt an expedited application and permit process for as-of-right energy facilities
Criterion # 3: Establish benchmark for energy use and developed a plan to reduce baseline by 20 percent within 5 years. Read our baseline townwide report HERE.
Criterion # 4: Purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles
Criterion # 5: Set requirements to minimize life-cycle energy costs for new construction;  it is a requirement to adopt the new Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) Stretch Code to be considered for the Massachusetts Green Communities Grant Program.