Climate Leader Communities

The Climate Leader Communities Program builds on Green Communities and provides tools and resources to help municipalities reduce emissions by electrifying non-electric energy uses and maximizing the efficiency of buildings and transportation. Towns that participate in the Climate Leader Communities Program are eligible for grant funding to support part or all of the costs of activities that would enhance energy efficiency.

To be eligible for Climate Leader Community certification, communities must meet the following requirements:

• Be a Green Community in good standing 🙂

• Have a local body (energy committee, etc.) that advises the municipality on clean energy/climate initiatives 🙂

• Create a Municipal Decarbonization Roadmap: Accepted by DOER  🙂

• Commit to eliminate on-site fossil fuel use in municipal buildings by 2050:
  ATM 5/31/2025 🙂

• Adopt a Zero-Emission Vehicle First policy for municipal vehicles:
  ATM 5/31/2025 🙂

• Adopt the Specialized Opt-In building code for new construction:
  ATM 5/31/2025 🙂

Climate Leader Communities Resources

• DOER Site on Climate Leader Communities 

• Details on Zero-Emission Vehicle first policies

• Specialized Stretch Code

           °  Building Code FAQs

           °  On Feb. 26, 2024, representatives of Mass. DOER presented
               on the updated Municipal Building codes. 

                 * Presentation (.pdf)

                 * Video of presentation (presentation starts at 16:30 in the video)

Return to ECAC Home here.