Seven Hampshire and Franklin county towns will receive a combined roughly $1 million in state Green Communities grants to fund energy-efficiency projects, including new heat pumps, windows and an electric vehicle.
The grants, part of $8 million distributed statewide, will go toward projects in Plainfield, Goshen, Easthampton, Amherst, Leverett, Sunderland and Deerfield.
Plainfield will use $96,368 for a new heat pump at Town Hall and energy-efficient windows at the library and police station.
The heat pump will replace an aging oil furnace, said Planning Board Chair Peter Lapointe, who added that the total cost of the pump will be in the ballpark of $120,000. But with the help of rebates from Mass Save and federal tax credits, the town is estimated to pay only $2,000 of those expenses.
“It’s a significant savings,” Lapointe said. The project at Town Hall will hopefully be completed in time for winter, he said.
Meanwhile, the new, energy-efficient windows at the library and police station will do more than just increase energy efficiency.
“It will help with the library’s historic look and provide good, airtight comfort for the police station,” Lapointe said.
Goshen doesn’t have a cooling center, but a new heat pump at Town Hall, being installed with a $173,486 grant, will help alleviate that. The funds will also cover new windows at town offices.
“The installation of cooling units in the Town Hall will allow this building to be fully utilized during warm weather and extreme heat events,” the Select Board said in a statement. “The town currently lacks a cooling center within the community for use during heat waves, and the Town Hall, as well as the library, have often had to close in the past due to hot weather.”
In Easthampton, $30,000 will cover half the price of a new electric-powered van for the Department of Public Works. The new van will add another electric vehicle to the city’s fleet. It will be used for meter readings, replacements and other services for the Water Department.
Mayor Salem Derby said the electric vehicle is perfect for the short trips necessary for the work and will help the city save on gas.
“For us, with the price of gas, it will help the city pinch pennies in every way possible after this year’s override,” he said.
Amherst received $124,999 to fund weatherization and air sealing at the North Fire Station.
In Franklin County, Deerfield’s $250,000 grant will fund energy conservation measures and building controls in municipal facilities, including Frontier Regional & Union 38 schools; Leverett’s $186,115 will fund energy conservation measures, a building management system and weatherization in municipal facilities, including the elementary school and library; and Sunderland’s $172,997 will fund energy conservation measures and a building management system in town facilities, including the elementary school.
Since 2010, $208 million has been awarded to Green Communities, according to Gov. Maura Healey’s office, saving cities and towns over $30 million in costs annually.
“Our administration is committed to helping cities and towns lower energy costs and make public buildings more efficient,” Healey said in a statement. “These investments will reduce energy use, save money and help communities make the most of every taxpayer dollar.”
