Oct 16th Town Meeting - Article 17 – Adopt the Stretch Energy Code

Article 17 – Adopt the Stretch Energy Code

West Boylston has been working with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to become a Green Community. The Green Communities Program provides grants and consulting to help member communities identify clean energy solutions that reduce long-term energy costs. The immediate benefit of becoming a Green Community is to make approx. $145,000 in grants available for energy efficiency improvements that will yield a 20% energy savings for West Boylston over 5 years. We will also have access to energy grants and consulting in subsequent years.

To qualify for the Green Communities Program, the Town must meet five criteria established by the state.   One of these is the requirement that the Town amend its by-laws to adopt the Commonwealth’s Stretch Energy Code. This code applies slightly stricter energy standards on new residential and commercial buildings as well as large additions to existing buildings. To adopt this code, we have placed Article 17 on the Oct 16th town meeting warrant asking voters to approve adding the Stretch Energy Code as a new "article" in our general bylaws.

For more information:

Green Communities, http://www.mass.gov/eea/energy-utilities-clean-tech/green-communities/

Stretch Energy Code, http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/government/oca-agencies/dpl-lp/opsi/consumer-prot-and-bus-lic/license-type/csl/stretch-energy-code-information.html

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Town Administrator Anita Scheipers, 774-261-4088, ascheipers@westboylston-ma.gov