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<p class="MsoNormal">Good Morning MassPlanners:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many of you are probably familiar with MA DOER’s Green Communities Program. Created by the Green Communities Act of 2008, it supports the clean energy efforts of 286 municipalities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the passage last year of the Climate Act, and the recent release of the
<span style="color:#141414"><a href="https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-clean-energy-and-climate-plan-for-2025-and-2030"><span style="color:#14558F">Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Noto Sans",sans-serif;color:#141414">,
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#141414">the Commonwealth’s clean energy and climate goals have established ambitious greenhouse gas emission goals.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a result, DOER intends to offer additional opportunities and resources to municipalities that have been actively participating in the Green Communities Designation and Grant Program through a new program that better aligns with these
goals.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tentatively called “Climate Leaders”, this voluntary program seeks to incentivize municipalities to implement clean energy and climate-friendly policies and planning, community engagement, and sustainable transportation programs..<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are accepting public comments on our draft proposal and particularly interested in hearing from the planning community on zoning and land use policies that help mitigate emissions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Visit the <a href="https://www.mass.gov/orgs/green-communities-division">
Green Communities website</a> to learn more about Climate Leaders and to provide feedback.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">Joanne Bissetta, Director<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">Green Communities Division<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">MA Department of Energy Resources<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">617-823-4029 (cell)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#004B8E"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.mass.gov/doer"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="86" height="51" style="width:.8958in;height:.5312in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D89B4C.A0288720"></span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/massdoer"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="51" height="51" style="width:.5312in;height:.5312in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D89B4C.A0288720"></span></a><a href="http://www.mass.gov/eea/grants-and-tech-assistance/guidance-technical-assistance/agencies-and-divisions/doer/subscribe-to-doer-email-updates.html"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="51" height="51" style="width:.5312in;height:.5312in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D89B4C.A0288720"></span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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