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The Green Communities Division – Partnering with Massachusetts Cities and Towns

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Deval L. Patrick, Governor Timothy P. Murray, Lt. Governor Ian A. Bowles, Secretary Phil Giudice, Commissioner. Renewables on Landfills January 19, 2010. The Green Communities Division – Partnering with Massachusetts Cities and Towns

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The Green Communities Division – Partnering with Massachusetts Cities and Towns

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  1. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Deval L. Patrick, Governor Timothy P. Murray, Lt. Governor Ian A. Bowles, Secretary Phil Giudice, Commissioner Renewables on Landfills January 19, 2010 The Green Communities Division – Partnering with Massachusetts Cities and Towns Meg Lusardi, Deputy Director Green Communities Division

  2. Green Communities Division Serving as the hub to all Massachusetts cities and towns on all matters related to energy

  3. Green Communities Division • Programs/Support for Municipalities • Regional Coordinators • Energy Audit Program (EAP) • Energy Performance Contracting Technical Assistance • Launch of the Energy Information Reporting System • ARRA Stimulus support – EECBG • Green Communities Grant, Loan and Technical Assistance Program

  4. Outreach – Regional Coordinators • Regional Coordinators act as direct liaisons with cities and towns on energy efficiency and renewable energy activities • Located at each of the DEP Regional Offices:SERO – LAKEVILLE: Seth Pickering Seth.pickering@state.ma.us NERO – WILMINGTON: Joanne Bissetta Joanne.bissetta@state.ma.us CERO – WORCESTER: Kelly Brown Kelly.brown@state.ma.us WERO – SPRINGFIELD: Jim Barry Jim.barry@state.ma.us • Other Outreach - Email updates via listserv (~800 subscribers)

  5. Green Communities Grant Program • Provides up to $10M annually in grants and loans to qualifyingcommunities • Grants will fund significant energy efficiency initiatives, renewable energy, innovative projects • Qualification Criteria • File an application • Adopt as-of-right siting, in designated locations, for RE/AE generation, or RE/AE R&D, or RE/AE manufacturing • Adopt expedited (12 month) application/permitting process • Establish an energy use baseline inventory with a program to reduce baseline by 20% in 5 years • Purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles • Require all new residential construction > 3000 ft2, and new commercial and industrial real estate constructionto minimize life-cycle energy costs

  6. Green Communities: As-of-Right Siting • Provides for the allowed use of, and does not unreasonably regulate – no special permit allowed • For Green Communities Program, siting is in designated locations • May be subject to non-discretionary site plan review to ensure consistent with as-of-right bylaw and state and federal law • Development projects that are consistent cannot be prohibited • Model as-of-right wind, large scale PV bylaws on website http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/doer/gca/Solar_Model_Bylaw FINAL Sept 09.doc http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/doer/gca/gc-model-wind-bylaw-mar-10-2009.pdf

  7. Green Communities Grant Program Development • Rollout of program • Planning Assistance to 106 municipalities (75 individual & 6 regional – 31 municipalities) • Training on Energy Code, including Stretch Code, beginning in January • Website, tools added over time: • Model as-of-right by-laws • Model policy and vehicle spreadsheet for vehicle criteria • Model outline and guidance for energy reduction plan • Link to stretch code • Plan to Launch Grant program January 2010

  8. Why Become a Green Community? • Economic Benefits – reduce energy consumption, reduce energy costs • Environmental benefits – reduce greenhouse gas emissions • Recognition – Sustainability leader in the Commonwealth • Recognized on DOER website, printed materials • Recognition sign placed in each community • Grants - to become even greener

  9. Green Communities Resources • Staff Contacts • SERO – LAKEVILLE: Seth Pickering, • Seth.pickering@state.ma.us , (508)946 - 2838 • NERO – WILMINGTON: Joanne Bissetta, • Joanne.bissetta@state.ma.us , (978)694-3315 • CERO – WORCESTER: Kelly Brown, • Kelly.brown@state.ma.us, (508)767-2703 • WERO – SPRINGFIELD: Jim Barry, • Jim.barry@state.ma.us, (413)755-2232 • Meg Lusardi – Deputy Director • meg.lusardi@state.ma.us (617) 626-7364 • Mark Sylvia – Director • mark.sylvia@state.ma.us (617) 626-7339 • Website: www.mass.gov/energy/greencommunities

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