Medford Recognized for Going Green
State Presents Medford, 3 Other Communities with ‘Leading by Example’ Award
Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Phil Giudice (left) and Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Assistant Secretary for Policy David Cash (right) presented a Leading by Example Award to Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn, Environmental Agent Carey Duques, and Energy Efficiency Coordinator Alicia Hunt at the State House on Tuesday. Photo by Rachel Offerdahl.
Medford was one of four communities recognized by the state with a “Leading by Example” award for its efforts in reducing energy use, using renewable energy sources, and improving the environmental quality of its public facilities.
In 2001, Medford became the first municipality in the state to develop a climate action plan. The city has converted all traffic lights to highly efficient LEDs, completed diesel retrofits for school buses, installed a 100 kilowatt (kW) wind turbine at the McGlynn School, which generates 10 percent of the school’s electricity demand, and has completed feasibility studies for solar PV installations at all six public schools. This month, Medford is launching a residential single stream recycling program, and the city worked with National Grid to conduct energy audits at all public schools. As a result, Medford earned a $504,000 federal stimulus-funded Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant grant for energy efficiency measures earlier this year.
“Let me first take this opportunity to thank Governor Patrick and Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and Executive Office for Administration and Finance for this award and for their outstanding commitment in supporting local communities. I am proud that Medford has realized the benefits, both environmentally, and fiscally, of working together to reduce energy usage across the board. It has helped the city work more efficiently, while reducing our carbon footprint,” said Medford Mayor Michael J. McGlynn.
“I am both pleased and proud that the city of Medford is one of only four municipalities to receive this distinction,” said Representative Paul J. Donato. “This is just another example of recycling initiatives that promote clean energy and improve efficiency.”
Last June, Medford was among several other communities across the state to be designated “green communities,” for meeting a slate of clean energy benchmarks such as purchasing only fuel efficient vehicles for municipal use and creating friendly zoning laws for renewable energy projects.
“This year, Governor Patrick’s Leading by Example Program is once again pleased to honor state and local governments that are setting the pace in the Commonwealth’s pursuit of a clean energy future,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Ian Bowles, whose office includes DOER’s Leading by Example Program. “From a small town on Cape Cod to state government’s largest energy user, this year’s winners have taken steps that will continue to yield huge dividends for Massachusetts taxpayers and our environment for years to come.”
Leading by Example (LBE) was established by an April 2007 Executive Order in which Governor Patrick directed agencies of state government to improve energy efficiency, promote clean energy technology and reduce their environmental impacts. The Executive Order calls on state government to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent, reduce energy consumption at state-owned and leased facilities 20 percent, and procure 15 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2012. In addition, it established the Mass LEED-Plus building standard for new state construction, which requires energy performance to be 20 percent better than code. To meet these goals, the LBE Program works collaboratively with various state agencies including the Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) and Operational Services Division (OSD).
Awards go each year to state agencies, public higher education institutions, and municipalities that demonstrate outstanding clean energy and environmental leadership.
– Information from Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs