SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Select Board last week agreed to continue moving forward to become a designated Green Community.
As a Green Community, the town could utilize numerous grants, technical assistance and support from a regional coordinator from the Green Communities Division of the Department of Energy Resources. The program helps municipalities reduce energy use and costs by implementing clean energy projects in municipal buildings, facilities, and schools.
BRIAN P. SULLIVAN
Following a presentation last summer by Green Communities coordinators Mark Rabinsky and Brian P. Sullivan, Southwick Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart and Selectman Russell Fox researched the program, its benefits and what is required.
“It’s not a simple process to become a Green Community,” said Fox, adding that “Southwick is one of the few communities left that’s not a Green Community.”
One reason Southwick did not pursue the designation in the past is the stretch code requirement. To be designated a Green Community, a town must adopt as-of-right siting for renewable and advanced energy generation, research and development or manufacturing; adopt an expedited permitting process; create an energy reduction plan; adopt a fuel efficient vehicle purchase policy; and adopt the Construction Stretch Code.
The stretch code adoption requires that “municipalities minimize the life-cycle cost of all newly constructed homes and buildings,” according to mass.gov. This was a barrier in the past, said Fox, but not at this time,
“We pretty much are at the stretch code now,” he said.
Stinehart said one of the Green Community criteria is energy reduction in buildings, including schools. Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional Superintendent Jennifer Willard attended a select board Zoom meeting last week and said the schools would cooperate with the town for the designation.
When asked about taking the next steps toward designation, Selectman Joseph Deedy said he was in favor of “putting it to the taxpayers” for a decision.
Fox and Stinehart said they would continue working together on the designation.
