The Green Communities Designation and Grant Program is an initiative of the Green Communities Division of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). The Green Communities program makes funding available to municipalities that have been designated as a Green Community. The grants fund energy efficiency and decarbonization measures for municipal facilities. Communities must meet five criteria in order to receive the initial designation.
Green Communities
- Ongoing Projects
- Clean Energy
- Pioneer Valley
Overview
PVPC staff are able to support your community’s efforts to participate in the Green Communities Designation and Grant Program. Services that PVPC can provide include:
- Assistance with setting up, organizing, and maintaining a MassEnergyInsight account that tracks municipal energy usage.
- Completing Energy Reduction Plans and assisting municipalities with meeting criteria 1-4 for Green Communities designation.
- Assistance with completing and submitting Green Communities annual reports.
- Writing and submitting Green Communities Designation and Competitive Grant applications
- Grant administration services for Designation and Competitive Grants.
In addition to the services mentioned above, as funding is available, PVPC can also work with communities to develop Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories and Climate Action Plans, and provide guidance on obtaining Climate Leader Communities certification.
Timeline
- 2008—provide input to newly formed MA DOER as PV CEP called for much that was included in new Green Communities program
- 2011-present — funded by MA DOER to provide TA to member municipalities and have supported 39 out of 43 to achieve and maintain Green Communities certification (link to State program)
- 2019-present collaborating with UMASS Clean Energy Extension to prepare GHG emissions inventories for select municipalities to accelerate and target climate action and mitigation work
Questions or Comments
