Melrose Lands State Grant For 2 Needed Infrastructure Additions

MELROSE, MA — The city is set to receive $139,000 from the state to support engineering design work for two local energy projects, according to an announcement last week from Gov. Maura Healey and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. The funding would cover design for a heat pump project at the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School and adjacent high school complex as well as a solar panel array on the city's salt shed.

The money comes through a Technical Support Grant awarded to Melrose after state officials recognized the city as a Climate Leader Community. According to the announcement, the design documentation produced through the grant is meant to help move the city toward the final steps needed for those projects to qualify for Climate Leader Communities Decarbonization Accelerator Grants.

Accelerator Grants can provide up to $1 million for projects that significantly reduce greenhouse gas pollution from municipal operations. The state said the planned Melrose projects are intended to provide energy cost savings to the city, particularly as electricity rates continue to rise.

Melrose qualified as a Climate Leader Community by meeting certification requirements outlined by the state. Those requirements included having a local committee to advise and help coordinate municipal energy activities, committing to transition away from on-site fossil fuel use in municipal buildings and fleets by 2050, adopting a zero-emission-municipal energy activities, committing to transition away from on-site fossil fuel use in municipal buildings and fleets by 2050, adopting a zero-emission-vehicle first policy, and adopting the Specialized Energy Code.

The Climate Leader Communities Program builds on the Massachusetts Green Communities Designation and Grant program. According to the state, municipalities designated as Green Communities have worked with the Department of Energy Resources on hundreds of projects that deliver more than $30 million in municipal energy cost savings annually.

Before the work can move forward, the City Council must vote to accept the grant award. Once that happens, the city will proceed with design development for the two planned projects.

The Department of Energy Resources created the Climate Leader Communities Program in response to demand from designated Green Communities for a higher tier of the program, according to the announcement. The program is intended to encourage municipalities to lower municipal emissions, improve the efficiency of buildings and transportation, and reduce energy costs.

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