Franklin Gets Green for Green

The Town of Franklin has been approved for an award of $150,902 by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Green Communities Division.   The announcement was made as part of a series of local awards and also marked the 280th  community to join the program, according to DOER.

The funding for Franklin will support the following projects proposed in the Town of Franklin’s Green Communities Competitive grant application.

• $15,000: Town — Electric vehicles (2)

• $49,514: Horace Mann School — Smart LED lighting

• $24,895: Horace Mann School — Transformer*

• $12,194: Remington Jefferson School — Transformer*

• $49,299: Keller Sullivan School — Transformer*

All of these projects are currently underway and the Town hopes to have all projects completed by December of 2022. (*  The purpose of the transformers was not made clear. An inquiry to the Town Administrator was referred to the Facilities Director, but a response was not received as of 'press time'.)

The Town's Green Community Page lists other initiatives pursued since 2018:

• Over 90% of all electricity used by the town and schools are from the solar farm on Upper Union Street. Electricity used in all of our town facilities and schools are from solar.
• By the end of 2018, all lights in town and schools buildings and publicly owned street lights will be LED, saving money in our operating budget every year. The Town anticipates a 75% reduction in operating costs from LED lights.
• The Solarize Massachusetts program got over 80 homes to convert to solar panels in Franklin.
• All of the mechanicals (e.g. boilers, motion sensors, electrical controls, etc.) in our Town and Schools have been upgraded to maximize emergency efficiency.
• Received a GAP II Grant in the amount of $80,000 to upgrade sewer stations pumps to energy efficient ones in 2018.
• New Vehicle Policy mandates energy efficient vehicles must be purchase by the Town.
• Adopting the "Stretch Code" in building standards requires builders to build more energy efficient homes.

To become certified as a Green Community, the Town had to complete a 5-year energy reduction plan to achieve a 20% reduction in energy. The Town's energy reduction plan is here: