Framingham Designated a Green Community; Awarded $300,000 from State

​Masachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan ​on Monday, March 3 awarded the Town of Framingham its Green Community certificate and presented the town with a $301,900 grant to fund municipal clean energy projects.​

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts officially designated the Town of Framingham as a Green Community in December 2013.

“These municipalities are now three of the 123 Green Communities across the Commonwealth making smart investments in clean energy,” said Governor Deval Patrick in a press release​. Community by community, we are protecting our environment, reducing municipal costs and making Massachusetts a clean energy leader.”

“It’s exciting to see these three communities count themselves among the leaders taking charge of their clean energy future,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan. “The Patrick Administration continues to support towns that are cutting energy use, creating jobs and protecting the environment. Their efforts are critical to the Commonwealth’s clean energy revolution.”

“Massachusetts’ clean energy revolution continues its momentum in large part because of leadership at the local level,” said ​Department of Energy Resources’ Commissioner Mark Sylvia.

“Blackstone, Concord, Framingham, and 120 more communities continue to spread renewable energy and efficiency efforts across our Commonwealth, saving money and energy for their residents and businesses, and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions," he added.

Once designated as an official Green Communities, cities and towns are eligible for awards to fund local renewable power and energy efficiency projects that advance both municipal and state clean energy goals. 

Grants awarded so far have funded a variety of projects across the state, including the installation of solar panels on town office buildings, weatherization at schools and municipal buildings, installation of high-efficiency street lights, and other energy efficiency upgrades. 

“Framingham has consistently proven to be a leader in clean energy and green initiatives," said State ​Sen​. Karen Spilka​, who represents Framingham, Natick and Ashland and all of her district is now a Green Community. ​​

“The Green Communities designation is a well-deserved tribute to these efforts and will allow the town to continue to pursue innovative energy efficiency and sustainability projects, preserving our environment for future generations​," said Spilka.

"This is something we should all be proud of," said Spilka who said the designation will ""save the taxpayer money along the way as well as creating​ ​jobs."​

“This grant will contribute to the ongoing savings in money and energy by both the Town of Framingham and the Commonwealth,” said Walsh.  “We can’t stress enough the importance of investing in clean energy infrastructure as we continue to face the reality of climate change and the need to be forward thinking on the environment and our energy infrastructure.”

 ​The Town of Framingham will adhere to five clean energy leadership criteria spelled out in the Green Communities Act, including cutting energy use by 20 percent over five years.

The five benchmarks, from the Legislature’s 2008 Green Communities Act, are:

* Adopting local zoning bylaw or ordinance that allows “as-of-right siting” – allowing a project to proceed without requiring a special permit or any time of discretionary approval – for renewable and/or alternative energy research and development facilities, manufacturing facilities or generation units;

* Adopting an expedited permitting process related to the as-of-right facilities;

* Establishing a municipal energy use baseline and a program to reduce use by 20 percent within five years;

* Purchasing only fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use, whenever such vehicles are commercially available and practicable; and

* Requiring all new residential construction over 3,000 square feet and all new commercial and industrial real estate construction to reduce lifecycle energy costs (i.e. adoption of an energy-saving building “stretch code”).(Editor's Note: This is the part of the Green Communities initiative that passed by one vote at Town Meeting.)​

 The Green Communities Designation and Grant Program, a result of the Green Communities Act signed by Governor Patrick in 2008, is funded through auctions of carbon emissions permits under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, as well as Alternative Compliance Payments made by electricity suppliers under the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.

 The Patrick Administration’s aggressive clean energy initiatives have made Massachusetts a leader in energy efficiency, renewable energy and emissions reductions. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy has named Massachusetts number one for three years running. 

This year, Governor Patrick set a new solar goal after reaching the previous goal of 250 megawatts four years early. The Commonwealth now aims to install 1,600 megawatts of solar capacity by 2020. The clean energy revolution is yielding economic benefits as well, with 11.8 percent job growth in the last year; nearly 80,000 people are employed in the cleantech industry in Massachusetts.