$50M in grants available for climate change projects

On Jan. 14, Gov. Deval Patrick announced a $50 million investment for a statewide plan to address the present and future impacts of climate change in Massachusetts.

The largest component is a $40 million “municipal resilience” grant program “that will enable cities and towns to harden energy services at critical sites using clean energy technology,” according to a statement from the governor’s office.

Some of the grants will be available to municipalities to install backup power systems such as micro generators, fuel cells, and new advanced batteries to store energy from solar panels.

An additional $10 million in grants will be available for seawalls and other infrastructure to protect critical drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities from storm surges and rising sea levels. This includes $1 million for “green infrastructure” projects such as beach and dune enhancement and salt marsh restoration, to be administered through the Office of Coastal Zone Management.

For information regarding redundant energy system grants, contact Amy McGuire at the Department of Energy Resources at amy.mcguire@state.ma.us or (617) 626-7380.

For critical infrastructure grants, contact Coastal Shoreline & Floodplain Manager Julia Knisel at the Office of Coastal Zone Management at Julia.knisel@state.ma.us or (617) 626-1191.