Climate Leader Communities
A voluntary, next tier above Green Communities designation. Cities and towns that meet six certification requirements gain access to enhanced state grants for cutting municipal emissions.
The Groton Sustainability Commission is leading Groton's effort to meet these prerequisites. The town is making steady progress — checking the boxes one by one.
What it takes
The program builds on the 2008 Green Communities Act, shifting the focus from energy savings to greenhouse gas reduction in line with the state's 2050 net-zero targets. Scroll down to see each of the six requirements a municipality must meet.
Be a Green Community in good standing
The town must already hold Green Communities designation and have filed its most recent annual report showing it still meets all five Green Communities criteria.
Stand up a clean energy advisory committee
A local body — created or confirmed by City Council or Select Board vote — that advises on and helps coordinate clean energy and climate work.
Commit to eliminating on-site fossil fuels by 2050
The municipality must formally commit to phasing out on-site fossil fuel use in municipal buildings and fleets.
Write a municipal decarbonization roadmap
A plan for decarbonizing municipal operations using a "Zero Over Time" approach — swapping to electric and efficient systems at natural trigger points like equipment failure, roof work, or major renovation, rather than all at once.
Adopt a zero-emission-vehicle-first policy
Every municipal department must commit to purchasing only zero-emission vehicles going forward, whenever a suitable model is commercially available and practical for the job.
Adopt the Specialized Stretch Energy Code
The town must adopt the state's most rigorous building energy code option, built around deep efficiency, reduced heating loads, and electrification, so new construction stays on track for the state's 2050 emissions limits.
What certification unlocks
Decarbonization Technical Support Grant
Funds vendors to produce engineering designs and recommendations for clean energy projects at municipal facilities.
Decarbonization Accelerator Grant
Funds projects — solar, heat pumps, storage, and more — that align with the town's roadmap and meaningfully cut municipal emissions.