GREEN PROJECTS are everywhere in Massachusetts. For energy efforts alone, 110 cities and towns from Provincetown to Pittsfield have been designated Green Communities by the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs since 2010 and have received more than $21 million in grants. If the Green Communities program meets its long-term goal, all 351 cities and towns will move toward clean energy from renewable sources and maximize their energy efficiency.
Financial support and a committed local government are of course crucial to towns struggling to be greener — but so is the initiative and creativity of the community. And on all those fronts, Northampton, nestled in the Connecticut River Valley, appears to have a winning combination. With a critical mass of activists (they figured out how to create the largest community farm in the state), innovative green entrepreneurs, and municipal leaders who take reducing the city’s carbon footprint seriously, Northampton, population 28,500, is getting things done. Here are just a few ways the city is growing greener.
Comments
Appreciate the good--and practical--news on the environment.
I love that the Globe includes positive stories, especially about the environment, when there is so much to feel negative about. Editors, consider making this a regular feature where you profile other towns around Mass that are doing things right, or trying really hard to make the places we live in better for everyone in our state...to show our pride in being front runners in turning the tide of environmental practices towards something our children can be proud of! Perhaps Ms. Hughes can dig up more food for thought along this vein? Thanks for sharing!
Holly
I agree!! I was talking about this last night with my 83 year old Aunt! We would love to hear more positive stories in the news!