Weymouth Awarded over $225,000 through the Green Communities Competitive Grant Program
The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) recently awarded Weymouth a Green Communities Competitive Grant Award for the third consecutive year since the Town’s designation in 2015. The total award of $225,373 will fund energy conservation projects in four municipal buildings including the Adams Middle School, Weymouth High School, McCulloch Building, and Town Hall. The award was presented to Town Staff on September 17th by Deputy Director of the Green Communities Division Joanne Bissetta, Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides, and DOER Commissioner Judith Judson.
“The efforts of the 90 communities receiving nearly $15 million today are important as we work to meet the greenhouse gas emission reduction goals set forth under the Global Warming Solutions Act,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson, in a statement issued by DOER.
At the grant award presentation, Commissioner Judson further explained that the proposed programs of the 91 communities awarded would result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 1,300 cars off of the road and, since the implementation of the Green Communities program, the reduction in emissions is equivalent to taking nearly 50,000 cars off of the road.
Weymouth’s 2019 award will fund lighting and weatherization projects in four municipal facilities. Specifically, Adams, McCulloch and the A&B classroom wings of the High School will receive lighting upgrades and retrofits. The Town Hall will undergo weatherization measures to increase energy savings. The grant will fund over 75% of the total project costs and the Town will contribute about $29,500 toward the projects.
The total projected annual costs savings that will result from these upgrades will be over $37,000. In addition, total utility incentives saved on electricity will be nearly $38,000 kWh.
“Weymouth was an early adopter of the Green Communities program and my Administration has aggressively sought Green Communities grants on an annual basis. We have seen the benefits not only in energy reduction but also long-term savings for the Town,” said Mayor Hedlund. “We are proud to be awarded this funding once again, thank the Baker-Polito Administration for their commitment to the program, and look forward to implementing the cost saving measures in our Town facilities and schools.”
Since 2015, Weymouth has received over $1M in grants through the Green Communities program. These grants have funded 30 local energy efficiency projects in municipal facilities, resulting in hundreds of thousands in energy savings per year.
The Town was designated a Green Community in 2015 through the Commonwealth's Green Communities Designation and Grant Program. This accomplishment came after more than a year of planning by the Town's Energy Advisory Committee. To date, 240 Massachusetts cities and town have earned Green Communities designation, representing 72 percent of the Commonwealth’s population. All Green Communities commit to reducing municipal energy consumption by 20 percent over five years.
As energy leaders in Massachusetts, Green Communities are eligible for funding through an initial designation grant and annual competitive grants. These grants provide financial support for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that further a Green Community’s clean energy goals.
Previous projects the Town has funded include:
|
|