City recognized for energy conservation programs, will receive $362,175 in grant money
*

A month after the Board of Aldermen voted in favor of an updated building code that will require a 20% higher energy efficiency standard for new construction, Somerville has been named a “The Green Communities designation, entitling the City to $362,175 in grant money on top of the recognition for its energy conservation efforts.

“The Green Communities designation is something we’ve been able to qualify for because we have a long-term environmental strategy,” said Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “It fits in with our many green initiatives like adding new parks and community gardens, taking vehicles off the road with improved public transit, and implementing zero-sort recycling citywide. We strive to be a Green Community in every sense of the term.”

The Department of Energy Resources’ Green Communities Designation and Grant Program, which is a result of the Green Communities Act signed by Governor Patrick in 2008, uses funding from auctions of carbon emissions permits under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to reward communities that win Green Communities designation by meeting five clean energy benchmarks:

• Adopting local zoning bylaw or ordinance that allows “as-of-right siting” for renewable and/or alternative energy R & D 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”).

“This program rewards cities and towns that face their energy challenges by adopting green energy practices, which reduce energy costs for municipal residents and create sustainable energy solutions for municipal operations,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr.

Ward 7 Alderman Robert Trane, chair of the Aldermanic Environment and Energy Special Committee, stressed the importance of energy conservation at the local level.

“Burning energy we don’t need to burn would be an example of wasteful government,” he said. “Energy isn’t free and energy consumption also has an impact on our environment. If we’re going to be good stewards of the people’s trust, then energy conservation is central to what we do.”

During the first year of its energy performance contract with Honeywell International Inc., the City of Somerville saved $431,893 in energy costs.

“That’s serious money back in the taxpayers’ pockets,” Curtatone said. “Green government is smart government and it is paying dividends for the people of Somerville.”