Westwood has been awarded in 2022 two energy efficiency project grants by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). Seven years ago, Westwood became a Green Community. Since becoming a Green Community, the Town has applied for and been granted seven consecutive competitive grants to help fund energy efficiency projects in the Town. 

Westwood filed for a Green Communities Grant in February 2022. Subsequently, the Town was awarded a grant of $90,000 bringing the seven-year total of DOER grants to approximately $1,390,000.  The 2022 grant will be used for LED lighting at the Sheehan Elementary School and an HVAC upgrade with air cleaning at the Thurston Middle School.  

In addition to Green Community funding, Westwood has received other incentives from Eversource. The Town has now signed a contract with the Commonwealth on how the recent grant funds and incentives will be expended. The Town reports back to the Commonwealth on the progress of the projects in order to receive the full amount of the grant and to qualify to participate in future competitive funding opportunities.

As a Green Community, Westwood is committed to continuing to reduce its energy consumption by 20%. These newly funded projects, as well as others completed in past years and planned for the future, will ensure the achievement of this goal. Over the last five years, the total value of the over 50 projects completed exceeds $ 2,500,000 with resultant savings in utility costs and greatly improved utility infrastructure.