Press
release
February
5, 2018
TOWN
OF WILBRAHAM
Contact:
Nick Breault, Town Administrator
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GREEN COMMUNITIES FORUM FEBRUARY 15, 2018
WILBRAHAM
– The Board of Selectmen announce a public forum on the Green
Communities Act will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 7:00
p.m. in the Brooks Room in the Wilbraham Public Library, 25 Crane
Park Drive, Wilbraham, MA 01095.
Jim
Barry, Green Communities Regional Coordinator for the Massachusetts
Department of Energy Resources, will be the guest presenter at the
forum. Mr. Barry made a brief presentation to the Board of Selectmen
last fall regarding the Green Communities Act. This forum is the
result of subsequent discussion by the Board of Selectmen to host an
event to invite questions and feedback from the public.
The
Board of Selectmen is considering whether or not to seek Green
Communities designation for Wilbraham. Green Communities designation
provides grants to qualifying communities to fund energy efficiency
initiatives, renewable energy, and innovative projects. There are
five requirements for Green Communities designation. One is for the
Town to adopt 780 CMR 115 Appendix AA, the “Stretch Energy Code.”
Adoption of the code is subject to a vote of Town Meeting. The
additional requirements include the adoption as-of-right siting, in
designated locations, for Renewable/Alternative Energy generation or
manufacturing; adoption of expedited (12 month)
application/permitting process; establishment of an energy use
baseline with a plan to reduce the baseline by 20% in 5 years; and
purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles.
Mr.
Barry’s presentation from last fall may be found on the Town of
Wilbraham’s website at: http://www.wilbraham-ma.gov
Additional
information may be found on the Massachusetts Green Communities
Division website at: www.mass.gov/orgs/green-communities-division
Robert
W. Russell, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen said, “The Board of
Selectmen encourage all interested citizens to come to this forum to
learn about the Green Communities Act, ask questions and give
feedback to the Board on pursuing a Green Communities designation for
Wilbraham.”