Hubbardston Awarded $188,000 Green Communities Competitive Grant

Hubbardston, MA - January 23, 2024 - The Town of Hubbardston is proud to announce it has been awarded a $188,000 Green Communities Competitive Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). This generous grant will allow the Town to undertake two significant clean energy projects.

The majority of the funds ($157,351) will be used to replace the aging heating system at the Hubbardston Public Library with new high efficiency air source heat pumps. "We are so grateful the Town pursued this funding to upgrade the Library's HVAC system," said Library Director Christine Barbera. "The operating cost savings from these energy efficiency upgrades will allow us to better serve our patrons by expanding programs, collections, and services. The new heat pumps will also improve comfort for visitors and staff in a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way."

"As Library Trustees, we deeply appreciate that the Town was able to secure these funds for much needed upgrades to the Library's infrastructure," said Connie Strittmatter, Chair of the Board of Library Trustees. "This exemplifies what we can accomplish when Town departments and volunteer boards work closely together. This investment in clean energy will allow us to better serve library patrons for years to come while reducing energy costs."

Additionally, $10,871 has been allocated to upgrade motors and install variable frequency drives at Center School to improve energy efficiency. The remaining $3,000 will assist with grant administration and technical oversight to ensure successful project delivery.

"We are thrilled Hubbardston has been selected as a competitive Green Communities grant recipient," said Town Administrator Nathan Boudreau. "These funds allow us to make crucial upgrades to Town facilities while working towards our sustainability goals."

The Green Communities program assists Massachusetts cities and towns in their efforts to reduce municipal energy use and costs through clean energy initiatives. The Competitive Grant specifically supports more complex and expensive projects to help further these savings.

Hubbardston looks forward to completing design and installation of these clean energy upgrades over the next year. The Town is committed to environmentally conscious and fiscally responsible decision making for our public buildings.

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