Weymouth secures $250K Green Communities Competitive Grant for energy efficiency projects

green communities

Weymouth, MA – Mayor Robert Hedlund announced today that the Town of Weymouth has secured a $250,000 Green Communities Competitive Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to fund energy efficiency projects in multiple Town buildings. Weymouth was one of 80 municipalities across the Commonwealth to receive a Competitive Grant, with over $14.7 million awarded by the DOER for fiscal year 2019.  

“The Green Communities program has been instrumental in supporting our commitment to reducing the Town’s long-term energy consumption,” said Mayor Robert Hedlund. “I thank the DOER and the Baker-Polito Administration for supporting our energy efficiency projects. With this grant, we’ll continue to make progress towards meeting the Town’s energy goals, saving taxpayer dollars for more vital municipal functions and supporting a clean, healthy environment.”

Green Communities Competitive Grants provide financial support for local energy efficiency and clean energy projects that further designated communities’ energy conservation goals. Weymouth’s $250,000 Competitive Grant will fund weatherization measures at Fire Station #2, as well as the replacement of florescent lighting with LED technology at the Hamilton, Pingree, Talbot, Seach, and Wessagusset Primary Schools. These projects are projected to save the Town approximately $277,727 kWh in electricity per year and generate $47,537 in annual energy savings.         

Under the Green Communities Act, cities and towns must meet five criteria to be designated a Green Community and become eligible for grant funding. Each Green Community receives an initial Designation Grant of $125,000 plus additional amounts tied to per capita income and population. Communities that successfully invest this initial Designation Grant are eligible to apply for Competitive Grants offered annually by the DOER. Competitive Grants are capped at $250,000 per municipality. Funding for these grants is available through proceeds from Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP) paid by retail electric suppliers that do not meet their Renewable Portfolio Standard compliance obligations through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates.

Since 2015, Weymouth has received $777,635 in grants through the Green Communities program. These grants have funded 26 local energy efficiency projects in 22 municipal buildings. The projects have ranged from high-efficiency lighting upgrades to installation of an energy management system and building insulation. The collective impact of these projects has been an estimated $151,312 in energy savings per year.

The DOER has awarded nearly $100 million to Green Communities like Weymouth since 2010. To date, 210 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. For Weymouth, this amounts to a reduction of 24,283 MMBTus, or the energy-use equivalent of powering approximately 204 Massachusetts homes.  

“The Green Communities program is an important partnership with cities and towns to help them find clean energy solutions that reduce long-term energy costs and strengthen local economies,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson in a statement. “These grants represent another milestone for both the communities and the Commonwealth as we continue to collaborate to meet our shared energy goals.”