PRINCETON, MA – In April of 2021 the Town of Princeton received notice of a $130,869 grant as part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Green Communities Designation and Grant Program. These monies will fund energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that will reduce Princeton's energy costs and positively impact the environment. Recently the town received word that the first 25% of these funds would be released to fund four individual projects and administrative assistance from the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission.
Project 1 – Lighting Upgrades at the Library ($14,350)
Convert 75 lights inside the building to new LED lights that fit existing fixtures. By replacing the lights with LED fixtures that match the existing equipment, there will be minimal disruption to the building's interior while providing efficient and more pleasant lighting. Additionally, 14 exterior fixtures will be replaced with new LED lights.
Project 2 – Lighting Upgrades at Fire Station #2 ($3,000)
Replace 12 inefficient fixtures and lamps with energy-efficient LED fixtures. The switch to LED lighting fixtures will deliver increased efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and longer lifespans. These benefits will yield significant dollar savings and improve the durability and quality of the lighting in the building.
Project 3 – Lighting Upgrades at the Highway Garage ($13,050)
Replace 16 high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting fixtures in the garage and linear fluorescent fixtures in the office and mezzanine with energy-efficient LEDs. The switch to LED lighting fixtures will deliver increased efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and longer lifespans. In addition, the new lighting will enhance visibility and safety for the building's occupants.
Project 4 – Purchase of a Hybrid Cruiser ($5,000)
The Princeton Police Department has replaced their 2015 Ford Explorer with a 2021 hybrid version of the Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicle. The 2015 vehicle has reached the end of its useful life, and the additional funds will cover the costs of purchasing the hybrid model over the standard gasoline model.
Princeton received designation as a Green Community in 2021. To be designated as a Green Community and receive grant funding, municipalities must meet five criteria and commit to reducing municipal energy consumption by 20 percent over five years. In 2021, Brian Sullivan, the Director of the Department of Energy Resources Green Communities Division, emphasized that Princeton's designation "reflects the hard work and tireless efforts" of the community in meeting those five criteria, providing "proof of Princeton's position as an energy leader in Massachusetts."
"Meeting and surpassing the green communities' criteria is a true testament to Princeton's commitment as a leader in energy reduction and environmental protection." Said Town Administrator Sherry Patch, "These funds will aid us in municipal energy reduction and qualification for future competitive grants to continue our sustainability efforts. I want to thank the Princeton Environmental Action Committee for all their work on this initiative"
“I’m excited that with the work of many and the support of Town residents, Green Community funding can now start to be used in Town to implement several energy saving initiatives. With these grants funded energy saving measures, we can soon start seeing benefits in cost savings and for the environment.” Said Corey Burnham-Howard, Chair, Princeton Environmental Action Committee
The Green Communities Division of the Department of Energy Resources was established through Section 10 of Chapter 25A of Massachusetts General Law. The Division is responsible for administering the Green Community Designation and Grant program, which can provide up to $20 million annually to the 85% of cities and towns within Massachusetts that have achieved Green Communities designation.
Please forward any questions regarding this grant to Town Administrator Sherry Patch at 978-424-2012 or email at townadministrator@town.princeton.ma.us.
