ATHOL – On March 31, the town received word it had been awarded a Municipal Energy Technical Assistance (META) grant of nearly $15,000 to undertake a weatherization assessment of Town Hall, the police station and wastewater treatment plant.

Two months later, officials are awaiting word that the funds have been released so it can bring in the consultant chosen to handle the assessment.

Claire Kokosa, a senior account executive with Rise Engineering, told the Town Energy Committee that Athol could potentially move ahead with other work aimed at reducing energy costs and carbon emissions while waiting for the assessment to begin. This will be done by weatherization expert Eric Nerstheimer, also with Rise, the consulting firm hired by the town to provide guidance on the execution of the municipal decarbonization plan.

“We could look into heating, cooling and ventilation upgrades, then have Eric come in to take a look at things that we would recommend for weatherization and insulation in the Town Hall,” she said at a recent meeting of the committee. “We then could apply for Green Communities funding for that and other weatherization measures.”

Green Communities grants can be used to to reduce municipal energy use and costs by way of clean energy projects in municipal buildings, facilities, and schools; guidance, technical assistance, and local support from Regional Coordinators, according to the state web site.

Athol Planning and Development Director Eric Smith said Nerstheimer has done a preliminary assessment of town-owned properties, and noted some weatherization measures had been done last year at the fire station. A timeline for weatherization of Town Hall, the police station and wastewater treatment plant has not yet been established.

According to the application for the META grant, the goal for Town Hall is to eliminate fossil fuel use in the nearly 35,000-square-foot structure while preserving its historic character, as well as reduce carbon emissions from municipal facilities by 85 percent by 2050. To achieve that, the town intends to convert “…Athol’s buildings from fuel combustion to high-efficiency electric heating and domestic hot water equipment...”

At present, the town budgets some $40,000 annually to pay for heating oil.

While Green Communities might eventually fund installation of heating, cooling and ventilation equipment, Kokoska pointed out, the program is more likely to fund weatherization work first.

“That tends to be the foundation for other energy efficiency projects,” Kokoska said. “So you’re not putting in a nice heating or cooling system and it’s just drafting out the windows or leaks in the ceilings.”

However, no weatherization assessment can take place until the town has the META money to pay for it, and no Green Communities grants are likely to be within reach until that assessment is complete. Kokoska said the next step is to begin a weatherization review of Town Hall and look for Green Communities funding to help weatherize the municipal buildings. Other goals within that scope may be added.

Smith said he has been in contact with state Sen. Jo Comerford and Rep. Susannah Whipps to see if they can find out when the funds for the META grant will be released.

The META program is overseen by the Green Communities Division of the state Dept. of Energy Resources. Funds from the grant, once they are released, will be allocated for the assessment of each of the three buildings as follows: Town Hall, $5,075; police station, $4,640; and wastewater treatment plant, $5,075.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.

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