NORWOOD – General Manager Tony Mazzucco and Energy Manager David Ruggiero are pleased to share that the Town of Norwood has recently been awarded three grants to support energy efficiency initiatives in town.
“I’m excited that the town has received these grants to help us continue to move forward with three important initiatives,” Ruggiero said. “This is validation that Norwood is becoming an exemplary Green Community that promotes a diverse green agenda aiming to benefit all its residents. We are appreciative to the Baker-Polito Administration and Mass Save for these timely grant awards that will support our efforts and investments in energy efficiency upgrades.”
MassDEP Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
The Town has been awarded a $100,000 grant under the state Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP) to install Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) electric vehicle charging ports.
The funding will be used by the town to establish an electric vehicle charging station with two ChargePoint® Express 250 ports at the Talbot Lot on Cottage Street near the Town Common.
As part of the grant program, the town is required to allow access to and use of the parking spaces and the EV charging station 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Additionally, for each station installed, one parking space must be designated for plug-in EV use only and be clearly marked.
This grant provides the first of three new public access charging stations planned for the town.
The Town of Norwood was one of 54 government and private entities to be awarded a portion of $13.1 million in grants as part of the MassEVIP.
About MassEVIP DCFC:
The MassEVIP DCFC program, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), provides grants covering 100 percent of the eligible cost to acquire and install publicly accessible DCFC electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at government-owned properties and 80 percent at all other locations, up to $50,000 per charging port.
MassDEP in spring 2021 received 81 applications for $19.4 million in total MassEVIP Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) program incentives. In February 2022, the agency awarded 54 of these applicants $13.1 million in funding – enough to install 306 DCFC ports at 150 locations across Massachusetts.
Green Communities Competitive Grant Award
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ (DOER) Green Communities Designation and Grant Program has awarded the town approximately $183,000. This grant is the second Green Communities award for Norwood.
The town was named a Green Community and received its Initial Designation grant in 2020. Like the 2020 award, this year’s round of funding will help further reduce municipal energy use and costs.
The latest funding will go toward several energy conservation measures town wide, including but not limited to, weatherization, LED lighting, HVAC upgrades, purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles, and more.
All Green Communities commit to reducing municipal energy consumption by 20% each. With the help of these awards, Norwood has already reduced its municipal energy use by 6%. With this latest award, the town expects that number to grow to approximately 10%.
About Green Communities:
Green Communities are eligible to apply for grants to implement energy conservation measures that help them cut energy use and costs. They track their actual energy use and costs, acquire fuel-efficient vehicles as required by their Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Policy, and ensure new construction activities are in compliance with the Stretch Energy Code.
Communities must meet five criteria to be designated as a Green Community and be eligible for funding. Two-hundred and eighty Massachusetts cities and towns have currently earned the Green Communities designation, which accounts for 87 percent of the Commonwealth’s population.
Mass Save Community First Partnership Program
The Town of Norwood has also been selected by the sponsors of Mass Save to participate in the 2022-2024 Community First Partnership. The program provides grant funding for outreach and support services to help residents and small businesses in Environmental Justice (EJ) populations access energy efficiency upgrades.
Over the course of the three-year program, the town will receive $35,000 each year.
EJ populations in Massachusetts must fit one of four criteria related to household income, minority populations and English language proficiency. According to the Mass Save Community First Partnership, energy bills can be a significant burden for many Massachusetts families and small businesses, and can disproportionately affect residents of EJ communities.
This funding is part of a Mass Save initiative funded in Norwood by National Grid. Norwood Light will also be supporting the effort.
About Mass Save:
Mass Save® is a collaborative of Massachusetts’ electric and natural gas utilities and energy efficiency service providers including Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty, National Grid, and Unitil. It empowers residents, businesses and communities to make energy efficient upgrades by offering a wide range of services, rebates, incentives, trainings and information.
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