Top Rated HVAC Company in Plymouth

In an exciting milestone for sustainability, the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, has been officially designated as a 'Green Community' by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) in 2023. This prestigious designation, which brings a $270,000 grant and eligibility for future funding, is awarded to municipalities that exhibit a strong commitment to reducing energy use, costs, and carbon emissions.

Plymouth's green status was achieved by meeting a series of stringent criteria, which included creating an action plan to reduce energy use by 20% over five years, laying down bylaws for renewable energy development and generation, approving the stretch energy building code, and adopting a fuel-efficient vehicle purchasing policy.

The town's solar initiatives reveal an ambitious, three-pronged approach to a more sustainable future. Short-term plans focus on boosting the energy efficiency of town buildings and promoting the advantages of the Mass Save programs. Mid-term plans consider the possibility of installing solar canopies over town-owned parking lots and revamping the ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system bylaw. In the long run, Plymouth envisages taking control of the energy efficiency program, a move reminiscent of the Cape Light Compact program.

As for electric vehicle adoption, Plymouth boasts an established Electric Vehicle Charging Network comprising eleven two-port charging stations, made possible by various grant programs. In a bid to promote the use of electric vehicles, the town aims to further expand this infrastructure. While specific numbers for Plymouth are not readily available, electric vehicles represented only 0.42% of registered vehicles in Massachusetts at the end of 2021, totalling 21,010 state-wide, shedding some light on the level of EV adoption in the area.

Plymouth's significant strides towards achieving sustainability goals position it as a front-runner in the quest for environmentally-friendly urban planning. The town's ongoing initiatives reflect a strong commitment to combating climate change and fostering a green future for its residents.