The Medfield Energy Committee (MEC) has been leading the effort to get the Town of Medfield to become a green community under the provisions of the recently enacted Green Communities Act.
The GCA is a Massachusetts statute that allows towns to opt in to becoming green communities by meeting the five criteria set forth in the statute, which then qualifies the town to share in the $10 m. of state wide grant monies that will be available each year. DOER gives preferences to new adoptees, so if Medfield adopts the GCA we are assured of receiving a grant of at least $125,000 the first year to do with as we see fit.
The five criteria are all things that appear to make eminent sense, especially to anyone interested in slowing global warming (yes the Town of Medfield can do a part):
1 – town policy to purchase fuel efficient vehicles (this only effects eight town vehicles and only when they are to be replaced, as DPW and public safety vehicles are mostly exempt)
2 – town commitment to reducing energy usage by 20% (the MEC has almost done this already – thank you MEC)
3 – adopt the stretch building code (Massachusetts will adopt this in 2012 anyway, and while it does result in an average house costing about $3,000 more, the pay back in energy savings is only around three years)
4 – expedited permitting (already done, as Medfield already acts on permits within the one year required)
5 – as-of-right siting for renewal or alternative energy facilities (this would be met by clearly allowing for the R&D and manufacturing of renewal or alternate energy items in the land primarily along West Street and Route 27 in the areas that are already zoned for Industrial Extensive manufacturing uses)
For the GCA to be adopted by the Town of Medfield, there are bylaw changes that need to get adopted at the town meeting on 4/25, to adopt the stretch building code and to revise the zoning as per #5 above.
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