Worcester: A greener future, today.

Earning the Green Community designation in May 2010 made Worcester eligible to apply for grant funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. As a result, the City developed the following grant proposal.

• In October 2010, the City was awarded the Green Community Grant in the amount of $852K. Approximately 74% of the program budget was allocated for financial incentives to encourage investment in energy efficient building improvements and renewable energy projects among Worcester homeowners. The rest was used to develop the outreach and marketing campaign focusing on the energy efficiency topics and to develop the WorcesterEnergy program and website. The City closed out the grant on December 31, 2015. Click here to learn more. 
• In 2016, the City applied and was awarded the Green Community Action Grant to do an LED project at a city school which would help advance Worcester toward its energy use reduction goal. Click here to learn more.
• In 2019, the City applied and was awarded the Green Community Action Grant to do an LED project at the Worcester Senior Center (which will reduce electricity consumption by 90,000 kWh and save over $15,000 in avoided electricity costs per year) and to replace electrical distribution transformers at the Forest Grove Middle School (which will reduce electricity consumption by 50,000 kWh and save over $8,000 in avoided electrical costs per year). The work is done by Guardian Energy Management Solutions, LLC.

Of Note: The maximum Green Community Grant award going forward ($250,000) does not allow Behavioral and Community Outreach Programs (such as the City's first grant) to be funded until the City reaches its goal of 20% energy use reduction.