Seven towns across Hampshire and Franklin counties are converting close to $1 million in Green Communities grants into lower utility bills and sturdier public buildings, according to GazetteNet.
Plainfield offers one of the most striking examples of the potential savings: a heat pump project estimated at about $120,000 may leave the town owing only around $2,000 once multiple incentives are applied.
Here's what to know
This round of Green Communities grants totals about $8 million across Massachusetts, and the local communities receiving awards are Amherst, Deerfield, Easthampton, Goshen, Leverett, Plainfield, and Sunderland. The funded projects include heat pumps, weatherization, window replacements, building controls, and an electric vehicle.
In Plainfield, the $96,368 grant is designated for a Town Hall heat pump along with energy-efficient windows for the library and police station, according to GazetteNet. Peter Lapointe, chair of the Planning Board, said the heat pump will replace an older oil furnace and that, after Mass Save rebates and federal tax credits, the town expects to cover only a small portion of the overall expense.
"It's a significant savings," Lapointe said.
Other local grants support a mix of building and vehicle upgrades. According to GazetteNet, Goshen will use its $173,486 award for a Town Hall heat pump and new windows for town offices; Amherst received $124,999 for air-sealing and weatherization at the North Fire Station; and Easthampton got $30,000 toward half the cost of a new electric van for its public works crews.
"For us, with the price of gas, it will help the city pinch pennies in every way possible after this year's override," Easthampton Mayor Salem Derby said.
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More background
Goshen officials also pointed to a community cooling benefit.
In a statement, the Select Board said, "The installation of cooling units in the Town Hall will allow this building to be fully utilized during warm weather and extreme heat events. The town currently lacks a cooling center within the community for use during heat waves, and the Town Hall, as well as the library, have often had to close in the past due to hot weather."
Since 2010, Green Communities grants have delivered $208 million, according to Gov. Maura Healey's office, helping municipalities reduce their annual costs by more than $30 million.
What's being done?
Franklin County towns are also lined up for more efficiency work. Deerfield plans to use its $250,000 grant for building controls and other energy-saving upgrades in municipal buildings, including Frontier Regional & Union 38 schools. Leverett's $186,115 and Sunderland's $172,997 will fund similar efforts, including building management systems and weatherization in schools, libraries, and other town properties.
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Healey said in a statement, "Our administration is committed to helping cities and towns lower energy costs and make public buildings more efficient. These investments will reduce energy use, save money and help communities make the most of every taxpayer dollar."
Where can I learn more?
Plainfield's unusually low final price tag shows how these projects get cheaper when grants, rebates, and tax credits are combined. Other articles show how communities and homeowners in New England and elsewhere are using the same playbook to lower upfront costs and long-term energy bills.
• Across New England, heat pump accelerator grant funds are helping communities trim energy bills.
• Homeowners weighing HVAC upgrades can tap up to $10,000 in incentives for heat pumps.
• In Colorado, summer rebates can slash heat pump costs by as much as $12,000.
• In Lincoln, Nebraska, local officials are offering $5,800 in incentives for new heat pumps.
• In California, state rebates are giving households $11,500 to upgrade HVAC systems with heat pumps.
That helps explain why cities, towns, and homeowners keep chasing every available incentive. Anyone intrigued by Plainfield's savings can use these articles to see how fast the math can change once those discounts start stacking up.
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