Green Communities

All nine NMCOG communities—Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, and Westford—are designated Green Communities. Through the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), the Green Communities Designation and Grant Program offers funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that enable municipalities to reduce costs and emissions.

Since the program’s launch, NMCOG communities have secured more than $1 million in funding to support projects such as installing solar panels on schools, retrofitting streetlights, and improving energy efficiency in municipal buildings.

NMCOG helps communities stay on track with the Green Communities Program through the Regional Energy Planning Assistance (REPA) Program. With REPA funding, NMCOG provides grant writing support, assists with annual report preparation to maintain good standing with DOER, and leads capacity-building workshops that strengthen both local and regional energy planning.

In 2025, NMCOG was awarded a two-year $56,900 Regional Energy Planning Assistance (REPA) grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to continue supporting Green Communities across the region. Over the FY26 to FY27 grant period, NMCOG will provide direct assistance to Billerica, Dunstable, Pepperell, Tyngsborough, and Westford with annual report preparation, competitive grant applications, and local energy planning. The award also supports regional workshops on aligning energy reduction planning with capital improvement planning and grant readiness; and the Climate Leader designation and related opportunities and challenges in Gateway Cities, helping to strengthen municipal capacity and keep communities in good standing with DOER.