By Theresa Knapp 

The Town of Hopedale has officially been designated a “Green Community” by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. The signs should arrive in the next 60 days.

Hopedale is one of nine communities just added to the list of 280 participating Massachusetts communities. The other newly-designated towns include Braintree, Clinton, Falmouth, Norton, Princeton, Rowley, Walpole, and West Stockbridge. 

The designation starts with an initial grant of $137,759 which is a base grant of $125,000 “plus an amount adjusted for population and income.” 

“We have projects on our energy reduction plan that we would like to submit,” Town Administrator Diana Schindler told the Board of Selectmen at its April 12 meeting. “After this grant, we would have to file for competitive grants,” specifically mentioning the hope to replace LED interior lighting at the library and the police department. 

“This is fantastic, a huge win,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Brian Keyes. 

According to mass.gov, “Green Communities are eligible to apply for grants to implement energy conservation measures that help them cut energy use and costs. They track their actual energy use and costs, acquire fuel-efficient vehicles as required by their Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Policy, and ensure new construction activities are in compliance with the Stretch Energy Code.” 

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/info-details/being-a-green-community