Yesterday, the office of Governor Deval Patrick released the names of the final two appointees who will coordinate the Massachusetts Green Communities program. The press release announced:
Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Phil Giudice named Kelly Brown of Leominster as Central Regional Coordinator for DOER’s Green Communities Division, and Seth Pickering of Middleborough as Southeast Regional Coordinator. Both began work in their respective regions on October 5. Brown and Pickering complete the Green Communities regional team, joining Joanne Bissetta of Acton and James Barry of Belchertown, who began serving as Northeast and Western Regional Coordinators, respectively, in August.
The Green Communities program was designed to boost the adoption of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy, such as solar power and wind, within the state. Funded by the auction of renewable energy credits (RECs) under the New England Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (or RGGI), the program will offer up to $10 million in grants to select municipalities. The regional coordinators face quite a challenge, chaperoning municipalities in their area through the process of qualifying for the grants. As summarized in the press release, communities need to meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- adopt local zoning bylaw or ordinance that allows “as-of-right-siting” of renewable energy projects – siting that does not unreasonably regulate these uses;
- adopt an expedited permitting process related to the as-of-right facilities;
- establish a municipal energy use baseline and establish a program designed to reduce baseline use by 20 percent within five years;
- purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use, whenever such vehicles are commercially available and practicable;
require all new residential construction over 3,000 square feet and all new commercial and industrial real estate construction to reduce lifecycle energy costs.
Now that all the regional coordinators are in place, it should help the Green Communities program start rolling–boosting Massachusetts solar and other renewable energy in the bargain.
