Subscribe to our free, online newsletter.
Westford is one of 72 municipalities to be designated as a Green Community and presented with a 2017 competitive grant of $250K from the state Department of Energy Resources.
“I am delighted to receive the news that Westford was awarded $250,000 in funding to make energy improvements in several of our municipal buildings,” stated Town Manager Jodi Ross. “…Our Energy Committee and Eric Heideman, Assistant Town Manager were instrumental in putting together the application, and Eric will be reporting to the Board of Selectmen on July 11 with the impact on our energy consumption from projects completed as a result of the past two awards.”
This is the fourth year the town has been given the designation for a total of approximately $887K since 2013. In 2016 Westford was awarded $250K. It received $240K in 2015, and $156K in 2013.
The state government program was begun in 2010, awarding more than $80 million to 185 communities through the years.
The Baker-Polito Administration this year on June 21 awarded a total of $14 million in Green Communities competitive grants to fund clean energy projects. It’s the largest in the program’s seven year history.
(This) “grant announcement is the largest award in the Green Communities program history and represents our Administration’s commitment to supporting clean energy efforts for our partners in cities and towns across Massachusetts,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The projects funded by these grants will allow cities and towns across the Commonwealth to reinvest their energy savings in vital public services like schools, public safety, and local infrastructure.”
Westford’s award will be used for LED Lighting retrofits and an energy management system upgrade of the Cameron Senior Center, the town’s Water Department, the Blanchard Middle School and Westford Academy. Past projects included interior and exterior lighting upgrades at the Police Department, Library and Senior Center; installation of a high efficiency boiler at the Blanchard Middle School, installation of energy management system and equipment upgrades at the Stony Brook, Miller and Crisafulli Schools, and interior lighting retrofits at the J.V. Fletcher Library and Highway Facility.
“As we work to meet our ambitious energy and emission reduction goals, the Green Communities program gives our municipal partners the resources they need to continue building upon the substantial energy progress each city and town has already made,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We look forward to the continued success in energy innovation these grants will ensure across the Commonwealth.”
The Green Communities Division staff continues to work with scores of other local government entities on an array of energy activities: from reducing energy use in municipal and school buildings to establishing power purchase agreements that enable financially attractive renewable energy generation, adopting the latest building codes.
