Monson is eligible for $165,975 in funding; Granby, $144,125; Holland, $143,250; Deerfield, $142,950 and Buckland, $134,150.
Five towns in Western Massachusetts are now "green communities," meaning they are eligible for grants for renewable power and energy projects that will advance municipal and state clean energy goals.
The towns - Monson, Granby, Holland, Deerfield and Buckland - are among 21 cities and towns to receive the designation by the Patrick-Murray administration.
Monson is eligible for $165,975 in funding; Granby, $144,125; Holland, $143,250; Deerfield, $142,950 and Buckland, $134,150.
The communities have to submit a project application to the state's green communities division proposing how these funds will be spent next month.
Monson Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers said officials had wanted to use the grant money for energy improvements at the Town Office Building on Main Street. Because that building is now uninhabitable due to tornado damage, she said the money will likely be used for improvements at the schools.
Officials are still uncertain if the Town Office Building can be renovated, or if it is beyond repair, and will not have that answer in time to submit the grant application, she said.
Neggers said she is pleased that the town received the green community designation.
"It is something we worked very hard for and something the people embraced by adopting the stretch code" at the May annual Town Meeting, Neggers said.
She said the town pursued the designation to save on energy costs, and to receive funding that would assist them with energy-saving projects.
The Department of Energy Resources’ Green Communities designation and grant program uses funding from auctions of carbon emissions permits under the regional greenhouse gas initiative to reward communities that win green communities designation by meeting five clean energy benchmarks.
Those benchmarks are: adopting a local zoning bylaw or ordinance that allows “as-of-right siting” for renewable and alternative energy research and design facilities, manufacturing facilities or generation units; adopting expedited permitting process for those facilities; establishing a municipal energy use baseline and a program to reduce use by 20 percent within five years; purchasing only fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use when practical; and adopting the energy-saving stretch building code.
Each green community also will receive four road signs identifying it as an official green community, and at least one solar trash compactor for municipal use.
“These newly designated green communities will join 53 other municipalities that are moving forward with renewable and efficient energy projects to help build a more sustainable and healthier environment for Massachusetts," Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray said in a statement.