Eighteen Massachusetts communities officially became Massachusetts Green Communities in December, joining the thirty-five communities receiving the designation in May, 2010. Included in this group were three more of Needham’s “comparable communities” – Dedham, Wayland and Winchester. That brings to six the number of Needham’s comparable communities having already become Green Communities. Also becoming Green Communities were the nearby towns of Easton, Medway, Milton and Watertown as well as the city of Boston.
The December designation by the Patrick-Murray administration was accompanied by the announcement that the new Green Communities will be eligible for an additional round for Green Communities grants later this winter. Our comparable communities will be eligible to receive between $132,000 and $180,000 for renewable energy or energy efficiency projects. This past July, grants were awarded to all 35 of the initial Green Communities, with nearby and comparable communities receiving between $135,000 and $200,000.
