Green Communities Technical Assistance
BRPC has been selected by the state Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to provide technical assistance to Berkshire communities interested in becoming a Green Community. As defined by DOER, a Green Community is one that meets the following five criteria:
1. As-of-right siting for renewables (generation, manufacturing or R&D)
2. Expedited application/permitting process
3. Establish energy baseline and a program to reduce use by 20% in 5 years
4. Policy to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles
5. Adopt the Stretch Code, an appendix to the state building code
BRPC has partnered in this effort with the Center for Ecological Technology (CET) to bring their expertise in energy efficiency and the stretch code to the table. Together, the BRPC/CET team will assist 14 communities in the Berkshires who successfully applied for technical assistance through a competitive grant process this fall (see the map below showing the 14 communities).
The technical assistance officially kicked-off at the October 29th 5th Thursday dinner with nearly 100 people in attendance (Kick-Off Presentation). Jim Barry, Western Massachusetts Regional Coordinator for the Green Communities Program at the state, was on hand to introduce the benefits of being a green community and answer questions. BRPC staff provided an overview of the action planning process and gave a glimpse into details involved with achieving the first criteria—as-of-right siting for renewables.
These communities have each organized a Green Communities Task Force to represent them in subregional meetings during the three-month process of developing a Green Communities Action Plan for their community. This action plan will describe progress to date, detail steps needed to meet the five criteria, and detail roles, responsibilities and timing for implementing those steps.
Green Communities Grant Program website provides fact sheets and guidance documents for all five of the Green Communities Criteria.
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security website provides links to the Mass. Building Code, including the Stretch Code
Stretch Energy Code Presentation
View the presentation that was given at a public informational meeting at Pittsfield City Hall on Feb. 22, 2010. This meeting was sponsored by the Pittsfield Green Commission. Speakers at this informational meeting were John Krol (Pittsfield Green Commission), Peggy MacLeod (Center for Ecological Technology), Chuck Miller (CET), Chris Lee (GreenCore Builders) and Lauren Gaherty (Berkshire Regional Planning Commission). Builders, architects, municipal building inspectors and interested citizens attended the meeting.