City Awarded $100K ‘Green Communities’ Grant

Greenfield has been awarded a “Green Communities” grant totaling $100,302 from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to implement important clean energy projects that will reduce the City’s reliance on fossil fuels, while also saving money on operations.

The grant will be combined with utility incentives to fund the following projects:

• Two Electric Vehicles ($30,000). Two aging gas-powered vehicles operated by the Building Inspections and Health departments will be replaced with all-electric vehicles.
  
• EV Charging Station ($7,500). A dual-port electric vehicle charging station will be installed at the City office building at 20 Sanderson Street to accommodate the two new EVs.
  
• Wastewater Plant Heating System Upgrades ($62,802). High-efficiency air source heat pumps and a heat pump hot water heater will replace oil-fired heating equipment at the wastewater treatment plant at 384 Deerfield Street. The heat pumps will also provide much-needed air conditioning to the laboratory and other areas of the building, while achieving a net savings in operating costs. Upon completion of this project, the City will have phased out the use of all heating oil in its all-season facilities.

“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.”

“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 designated Green Communities in the Commonwealth. In return for meeting five criteria related to clean energy and energy efficiency, the City is able to apply for grants to implement eligible energy-efficient projects. Funding for the Green Communities grants is available through proceeds from carbon allowance auctions under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.