The Green Communities Program Partnering with Massachusetts Cities and Towns. Mark Sylvia, Director Green Communities Division

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1 Helping Massachusetts Municipalities Create a Greener Energy Future COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Deval L. Patrick, Governor Timothy P. Murray, Lt. Governor Ian A. Bowles, Secretary Phil Giudice, Commissioner Going Green, What does it Mean? MMA Workshop January 23, 2010 The Green Communities Program Partnering with Massachusetts Cities and Towns Mark Sylvia, Director Green Communities Division

2 Massachusetts Cleaner energy is an important part of our future - Key priorities of the Patrick Administration Green Communities Act Global Warming Solutions Act Green Jobs Act - Landmark Green Communities Act in 2008 provides a strong foundation - Important progress is underway focusing on energy efficiency, investment in renewables and creation of the green communities program 2

3 Green Communities Division Serving as the hub to all Massachusetts cities and towns on all matters related to energy 3

4 GOING GREEN, WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Cities, towns and other local governmental bodies can do a number of things to reduce their energy costs including: Establish an energy baseline: understand your energy use Energy Audits: identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption Implement measures: Through town investments, utility rebates and incentives, grant programs and performance contracting Change behaviors: Through energy conservation policies Explore renewable energy opportunities 4

5 Green Communities Program DOER Programs/Support for Municipalities Energy Audit Program (EAP) Energy Performance Contracting Technical Assistance MassEnergyInsight formerly EIS Green Communities Grant, Loan and Technical Assistance Program ARRA Stimulus support EECBG Regional Coordinators 5

6 ENERGY AUDIT PROGRAM Technical assistance for all buildings owned and operated by cities, towns, regional school districts and waste water treatment plants through: Benchmarking of structures and detailed energy audits Working with Investor Owned Utilities on transitioning the funding and auditing components of the EAP. PILOT transition communities: Melrose, Fairhaven Boston Public Schools, Hanover, Burlington and Pittsfield. Next Group: Needham, Falmouth and Lincoln 2 nd Round Queue: 135 6

7 ENERGY AUDIT PROGRAM 7

8 Energy Performance Contracting Technical Assistance MGL c25a sections 11C and 11i Provide a guide, model RFR/RFQ and model contract documents Review bid documents Educate and guide communities through the process - Approximately 25 municipal performance contracts - Approximately 13 municipalities in process Contact: Eileen McHugh, eileen.mchugh@state.ma.us,

9 MassEnergyInsight MassEnergyInsight will be provided to all 351 cities and towns free of charge. It will provide access to comprehensive up-to-date energy usage and cost information. Among the uses are: (1)Benchmarking consumption and identify priority targets for efficiency investments (2)Measure results (3)Develop and monitor emissions inventory and track and report emissions reductions. Standard Features of this web based, point and click system include: Electronic download of utility data Standard and custom reporting Integration of utility billing and usage data with building and energy end-use information 9 Roll out January 25, 2010

10 GREEN COMMUNITIES GRANT PROGRAM Approximately $7,000,000 available in grants for FY 2010 to qualifying communities - Grants will fund significant energy efficiency initiatives, renewable energy, innovative projects Qualification Criteria 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 ft 2, and new commercial and industrial real estate construction to minimize life-cycle energy costs 10

11 GRANT PROGRAM STATUS Funds allocated for Green Communities from RGGI auctions Rollout of program RFI to municipalities 120 Responses Issued final criteria on 7/10/09 Website, toolkit: Guidance documents on all five criteria Planning Assistance to 106 municipalities 6 Consulting Firms: Blue Wave, ICF, VHB, FRCOG, PVPC and BRPC/CET Designation Process and Grant Program launched on January 22, 2010 Two step process 11

12 EECBG FORMULA GRANTS Municipalities > 35,000 (direct grants from US DOE) $27,000,000 in funding available 12 eligible activities in areas such as energy efficiency, renewables, material conservation, reduction of GHG, 42 municipalities qualify As of 1/19/10: 41 municipalities and Barnstable County have received approval from DOE 12

13 EECBG COMPETITIVE GRANTS Municipalities < 35,000 (competitive grants - DOER) $14,752,000 awarded to MA 80% to be sub-granted through a competitive grant process to cities and towns with a population < 35,000 Remaining 20% to fund other municipal grants / initiatives - Owners Agent Technical Assistant - Building Inspector training - Energy Information Reporting System 13

14 OUTREACH - REGIONAL COORDINATORS updates via listserv (~900 subscribers) 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 14

15 New for 2010 Green Communities Grant Program Roll Out MassEnergyInsight Roll Out Development of Energy Procurement Guidance Revisions to 25A 11C, 11I regulations Newsletter and case studies Online library Statewide energy programs Partnerships 15

16 Green Communities Contacts Mark Sylvia Director (617) Website: Meg Lusardi Deputy Director (617)