Arlington is among 35 "green communities" announced Tuesday, May 25, by Gov. Patrick. The Commonwealth's first official such communities allow them to be eligible for $8.1 million in grants for local renewable-power and energy-efficiency projects. The projects promise to create green jobs and advance both municipal and state clean-energy goals.

Asked what projects Arlington's share of the funds would pay for, Town Manager Brian Sullivan wrote May 25: "We have a group working on potential projects. We will be going over and finalizing the list with in the week."

Shelly Dein of Sustainable Arlington, which has been involved in this effort, responded May 26:

"The volunteers at Sustainable Arlington are thrilled that the town was designated, receiving recognition for the ground work they've done to reduce their use of fossil fuels and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

"The town has been interested in saving energy for a long time, which will help it save money. We worked with town officials and staff to help make this designation happen, and we hope the Town's upcoming application for a state grant to finance some energy-saving projects will be successful too."

In comments on the town's Web site May 26, Sullivan said: "The designation recognizes all that the town has already done to demonstrate its commitment to being 'green.' It also puts the town in the position to further reach energy reduction goals, through access to State grant dollars for green energy projects."

The Boston Globe reported May 26 that Sustainable Arlington and town officials hope to fund projects that will reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency, including a proposal to convert high-pressure sodium streetlights to more energy efficient LED streetlights. The town also hopes to secure grant funding for energy management and heating systems at the Hardy School and Arlington High School, the report says..

The town met all five clean energy benchmarks set by the program, including the recent adoption of the energy-saving building "stretch code" voted by Town Meeting. The five are:

* Adopting local zoning bylaw or ordinance that allows "as-of-right-siting" of renewable energy projects;

* Adopting an expedited permitting process related to the as-of-right facilities;

* Establishing a municipal energy use baseline and a program designed to reduce use by 20 percent within five years;

* Purchasing only fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use, whenever such vehicles are commercially available and practicable; and

* Requiring all new residential construction over 3,000 square feet and all new commercial and industrial real estate construction to reduce lifecycle energy costs (i.e., adoption of an energy-saving building "stretch code").

Also named "green communities" were Cambridge, Lexington and Medford. All 35 have until June 4 to submit applications for grants that are to be awarded in late June.

The signature program of the landmark Green Communities Act of 2008, the Department of Energy Resources' (DOER) Green Communities Grant Program uses funding from auctions of carbon emissions permits under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to reward communities that win Green Communities designation by meeting five clean-energy benchmarks.

Read the news release from the governor's office.

This story was first reported May 25 and updated a number of times after that.