From left, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll; Talia Fox, town sustainability manager; and DOER Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. / Photo courtesy Henry Shifrin, Governor’s Office.
The state is recognizing the municipalities that are putting in the work for a cleaner, greener future. Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has named 19 cities and towns as “Climate Leader Communities,” and Arlington is one of them.
“We are working together on all fronts to lower energy costs, and these 19 municipalities have done the hard work to cut their municipal energy costs and lower local air pollution” said Gov. Maura Healey. “This new program is a triple win that strengthens communities, local economies and our environment, and we are excited to watch it grow.”
A recent press release from the Healey administration calls the climate-leader program a “higher tier” of the Green Communities Designation and Grant program, which seeks to help municipalities reduce energy use and costs by implementing clean-energy projects in buildings, facilities and schools; Arlington has received funding from this program. $29.7 million is distributed to hundreds of projects each year.
DOER created the climate program in response to high demand from the Green communities for an “elevated program.” The 19 chosen municpalities are now elligible to apply for an additional $1.15 million to fund projects that help lower municpal emissions.
“Arlington continues to lead by example on climate with this latest Climate Leader Community certification,” Town Manager Jim Feeney said. “We are grateful to DOER for the recognition, and we look forward to taking our climate-change mitigation work to the next level with continued support from the Commonwealth.”
Friday, May 2, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and DOER Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony attended a ceremony in Watertown to announce the Climate Leader communities. Arlington’s sustainability manager, Talia Fox, was present to accept the certificate.
More details are here >> or, read below:
According to the DOER’s criteria to be named a Climate Leader, communities had to meet the following:
- Establish a local energy committee,
- Make a municipal decarbonization commitment (net zero by 2050),
- Complete a municipal decarbonization roadmap,
- Have a zero emission vehicle first policy and a
- Specialized Stretch Code adoption.
Since 2018, the town’s Clean Energy Future Committee has been working to guide Arlington towards net zero emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 2050. A decarbonization roadmap with specific targets for electrification of Arlington’s buildings and vehicles is here >>
According to the town website, Arlington intends to apply for the funding to efficiently electrify its buildings. Additional information on the town’s climate change mitigation efforts can be learned here >>
In addition to Arlington, the following communities were included in the climate program; Acton, Amherst, Ashfield, Cambridge, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Easthampton, Lexington, Melrose, Natick, Pelham, Salem, Somerville, Stow, Swampscott, Truro, Watertown and Wellesley.
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This announcement was created May 6, 2025, based on information from the town of Arlington and the Healey administration.
