Planning Board Eyes Stretch Code Vote to Unlock $135,000 State Energy Grant

AVON -- May 21, 2020, Avon Planning Board hears Green Communities pitch with $135,000 grant on the line. At a joint May 21 session, Lisa Sullivan of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources told the board that Avon could receive an estimated $135,000 designation grant and compete for up to $200,000 annually in competitive rounds if the town achieves Green Communities status, one of 271 municipalities statewide already designated. The sole remaining hurdle requiring a town meeting vote is the stretch energy code, which applies only to new residential construction and new commercial builds over 100,000 square feet. William Dirigo of ICF called the code "really not much of a stretch," noting builders across the state are already constructing to its standards voluntarily. Town officials flagged roughly $260,000 in HVAC needs at the COA and town hall as prime candidates for grant funding. The board is expected to vote on formal stretch code bylaw language at a future meeting before advancing an article to town meeting.