BOS Want To Know: Should Needham Become A Green Community?

NEEDHAM, MA — Needham's Board of Selectmen are mulling over whether to designate the town as a Green Community through the state and want to hear from residents. A hearing on the issue will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 in Town Hall.

Municipalities designated "Green Communities" are given grants, technical assistance, and local support from Regional Coordinators who are part of the state's "Green Communities Division" to help reduce energy use and costs by implementing clean energy projects in municipal buildings, facilities, and schools.

The town would need to meet several requirements before receiving the destination, including establishing an energy use baseline and implementing a comprehensive program designed to reduce the baseline by 20 percent within the 5-year period following the Baseline Year.

A presentation of the requirements to become a green community was given to the Board of Selectmen on Sept. 24. View the whole presentation online.

The town is accepting comments and questions about the designation and program before the meeting for public comment — questions can be sent to the Board of Selectmen via email.