Green Communities Competitive Grants Awarded 2 8M To Fund 55 Clean Energy Projects In 19 Communities Across Mass

STATE GRANT WILL AUGMENT CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS IN ACTON SCHOOLSEnergy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan and Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia have awarded 2.8 million in grants to fund 55 clean energy projects in 19 communities across the state, including some at Acton and Acton-Boxborough schools.The first round of so-called Green Communities Competitive Grants are awarded to existing Green Communities that have successfully invested their initial designation grants, according to a press release.The grants, totaling 2,756,494, are funded through proceeds from Alternative Compliance Payment received from retail electricity suppliers under the state's Renewable and Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard programs.The goal of the Green Communities Competitive Grant program is to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that further the clean energy goals of previously-designated Green Communities.The projects range from upgrades to ventilation systems and lighting to installation of insulation and energy management systems at municipal buildings and facilities.In Acton, grants totaling 141,704 will be used for projects at the R.J. Grey Junior High School, as well as three elementary schools - the Douglas, Gates and Conant Schools.There are 86 so-called Green Communities across the state and 42 percent of Massachusetts residents - 2.7 million people - live in Green Communities.To qualify for Green Community status, communities must demonstrate commitment to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent.Officials said such a commitment collectively equates to the annual energy consumption of more than 13,000 Massachusetts homes and the greenhouse gases from more than 16,800 cars.NUMBERS TO KNOW141,498 clean energy grants for Acton and Acton-Boxborough schools35,704 R.J. Grey School demand control ventilation40,554 R.J. Grey School reset unit ventilator controls17,540 R.J. Grey School replace caulking2,640 R.J. Grey School boiler and rooftop unit recommissioning3,285 Douglas, Gates and Conant Schools boiler reset16,415 Douglas School caulking12,680 Gates School caulking12,680 Conant School caulkingSource: Department of Energy ResourcesSOURCE: WICKED LOCALBOXBOROUGH (HTTP://WWW.WICKEDLOCAL.COM/ACTON/NEWS/X1992159370/STATE-GRANT-WILL-AUGMENT-CLEAN-ENERGY-PROJECTS-IN-ACTON-SCHOOLS#IXZZ20RTSGNG1)