GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Greenfield became a designated “Green Community” in 2010 and since then the city has seen approximately 28% in energy savings.
Carole Collins, the Greenfield Energy and Sustainability Director, said in a Ways and Means meeting Wednesday that the city has saved over $5 million since setting out as a Green Community in 2010, approximately $2 million of those savings stem from the streetlight conversion project and a large portion also comes from the solar market program.
A solar array was gifted to the city for the Department of Public Works building and since then the building has not only become self-sustaining, energy-wise, but has turned a profit as it produces more energy than the building requires.
More energy efficiency changes are also coming to the city. The Police Department is in the process of getting an electric pick-up truck that will be used as a normal cruiser to test out the capabilities of an electric vehicle for the departments’ uses.