By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Greenfield, MA) Greenfield has been awarded just over $100,000 for a Green Communities Grant. The grant will fund the purchase of two all-electric vehicles for the Building Inspections and Health Department totaling $30,000; an Electric Vehicle charging station to accommodate the vehicles for $7,500; and upgrade to the wastewater plant heating system. The wastewater plant will replace their oil-fired heating equipment with high-efficiency heat pumps and a heat pump hot water heater. This will be the final step in the City replacing all of their oil-heating systems in their all-season facilities.
“We are extremely grateful for the continued generous support of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources through the Green Communities program for making much of the City’s energy and sustainability work possible,” stated Energy and Sustainability Director Carole Collins. “Greenfield has implemented many energy saving projects with Green Communities funding leveraged with utility incentives resulting in significant annual cost savings, as well as an impressive 25% reduction in municipal energy use.”
Greenfield was among the first municipalities to be designated as a Green Community in the state. The city must meet five criteria related to clean energy and efficiency in order to qualify for grants to fund eligible energy-related projects. These grants are funded by the carbon allowance auctions under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
“I commend the City’s Department of Energy and Sustainability under the leadership of Carole Collins for bringing home the green in this highly competitive grant program,” said Mayor Roxann Wedegartner. “These upgrades will save taxpayers money and help to reduce Greenfield’s carbon footprint.”