Ashfield becomes first Climate Leader Community in Franklin County

From left, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Ashfield Energy Committee member Mary Quigley and Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony at the inaugural Climate Leaders Ceremony in Watertown earlier this month. Courtesy Photo/Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
Published: 05-12-2025 3:58 PM |
ASHFIELD — It’s official. Ashfield has been named among the state’s first group of Climate Leader Communities, making it the first Franklin County municipality to earn the designation.
The designation, which was given to 19 cities and towns in an inaugural ceremony held in Watertown earlier this month, celebrates Ashfield’s commitment to setting a standard for reducing its energy use and switching to clean energy.
“Following decades of success in reducing energy use and costs, these 19 Climate Leader Communities inspire us with their dedication to build healthy, sustainable communities,” Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony said during the inaugural ceremony. “These cities and towns will build high-performance buildings, generate local, clean energy, electrify their fleets, and increase community engagement and education.”
Ashfield’s goal is to cut use of fossil fuels in municipal facilities by 95.6% by 2050. The town has been working to become greener and more sustainable since 2010, when it applied to be named a Green Community by the state Department of Energy Resources and was given $165,000 in grants to upgrade town buildings. Approving three warrant articles at the 2024 Annual Town Meeting — involving a decarbonization resolution, a plan to replace old town-owned vehicles with more energy-efficient electric or hybrid vehicles, and added efficiency requirements for residential and commercial buildings — helped put Ashfield on track to become a Climate Leader Community.
As a Climate Leader, Ashfield is now eligible for up to $1 million in grant funding to support installation of solar arrays at the town’s Highway Garage and Wastewater Treatment Plant that could save the town $2 million in energy costs over the next 25 years.
“Besides providing all the electricity to run this plant, it will also produce net generation credits. What’s leftover will be converted and go to Eversource and take care of Town Hall, the library, Fire Department, parks, beach, Transfer Station, street lights, and still give us $21,000 a year,” Energy Committee member Mary Quigley said during a stop at the Wastewater Treatment Plant on Conway Road as part of a solar array site tour earlier this year.
Ashfield’s Energy Committee plans to submit the grant application this summer in advance of a Aug. 1 deadline, and is hopeful to hear back about whether it will receive the grant in the winter, allowing for the solar panels to be installed in spring 2026.
The Climate Leader designation builds upon the Green Communities program, which encouraged communities to reduce municipal energy usage. Since Green Communities was first created in 2010, 297 Massachusetts cities and towns have earned the designation, sparking state officials to create the Climate Leader program. To become a Climate Leader, municipalities must make a commitment to transition away from on-site fossil fuel use in municipal buildings and fleets by 2050, enact a zero-emission-vehicle first policy and adopt the specialized energy code.
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“I know firsthand how the Green Communities program helps cities and towns complete local projects to lower their energy use, and we are proud to certify the first cohort of Climate Leader Communities,” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said in a statement. “These communities will take their work to the next level and create healthier communities and lower costs for residents and businesses.”
Ashfield was the only Franklin County town to receive the designation. Easthampton, Amherst and Pelham earned the designation in neighboring Hampshire County. The remaining municipalities to be named Climate Leaders are Acton, Arlington, Cambridge, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Lexington, Melrose, Natick, Salem, Somerville, Stow, Swampscott, Truro, Watertown and Wellesley.
With votes at Annual Town Meeting earlier this month, Warwick is now pursuing becoming a Climate Leader Community as well. By adopting Article 21, townspeople voted 44-34 to replace the “Stretch Energy Code” with the “Specialized Energy Code” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, adoption of Article 22 enables the town to be designated as a Climate Leader through its commitment to eliminating on-site fossil fuel burning in town buildings and vehicles.
Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.