In Massachusetts, there are many ways towns can become energy efficient, deploy solar energy and save taxpayers money at the same time. There are state funding programs, numerous incentives and ways for systems to pay for themselves.
One program in Massachusetts is called the Green Communities Designation & Grant program (GCDG). Started in 2008, âthe Green Communities Division of the MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER) wanted to help municipalities become more sustainable, control rising energy costs and incubate the clean energy technologies and practices that will put Massachusetts cities and townsâand the commonwealth as a wholeâat the center of the 21st-century clean energy economy. Envisioned as a way to encourage municipalities to make clean energy decisions, the division is mandated to offer grant opportunities to municipalities designated as âGreen Communities.ââ (1)