Milton Is Named a Climate Leader Community!

We have exciting news to celebrate! On October 21, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) officially named Milton a Climate Leader Community, recognizing the Town's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, and building a cleaner, more resilient future.

Milton is one of nine communities to receive the designation this fall, joining a growing group of 44 cities and towns leading the state's clean energy transition.

The designation provides tools and resources to help municipalities reduce emissions through two new grant programs:

• Decarbonization Technical Support Grants — up to $150,000 to hire vendors for recommendations and engineering design for clean energy projects at municipal facilities.

• Decarbonization Accelerator Grants — up to $1 million (or, as recent updates indicate, up to $1.15 million) for projects that significantly reduce municipal GHG emissions. 

A community can receive both grants once per program cycle, the first of which is open for 3 years, so the cumulative financial support could be as much as $10 million through 2050.  These investments are critically needed to reduce energy costs for taxpayers, modernize the town's energy infrastructure, and, of course, cut climate-warming pollution.

A Community Achievement Years in the Making

Milton's Climate Leader designation didn't happen overnight. It reflects years of sustained work by Town staff, town elected leaders, and Sustainable Milton volunteers.

In 2023, Sustainable Milton lobbied Select Board to take concrete action to respond to climate change. The Select Board responded by convening the Climate Action Planning committee (CAPC). In addition to researching and writing Milton's draft Climate Action Plan, the CAPC recognized early on that becoming a Climate Leader Community would be an important step to appropriately resource the town's clean energy transition. Over three years, the CAPC coordinated an effort to meet the six eligibility requirements:

We especially want to recognize Milton Municipal Energy Manager Kai Mueller, whose dedication and effective work over the past year helped bring the Town across the finish line for Climate Leader certification while securing additional grant support for local energy projects.

Our thanks also go to the members of the Climate Action Planning Committee, past and present, along with Town staff, the Select Board, Town Meeting members, and the many residents who have supported this work

Another Reason to Celebrate: A New $20,000 Grant

The state's October 21 announcement included another bit of good news for Milton: a $20,000 Municipal Energy Technical Assistance grant to support the design of a solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system.

Solar panels paired with battery storage can help municipalities generate their own clean electricity, manage energy costs, and potentially improve resilience during power outages.

The new grant will support the engineering and design work needed to advance such a project. It is a tangible example of how state partnerships can help Milton translate its clean energy goals into practical investments.

A Milestone Worth Celebrating—and a Foundation for What's Next

Becoming a Climate Leader Community is an important achievement, but much remains to be done. Sustainable Milton is a 100% volunteer-driven organization.  We have big objectives, but we need your help to make them a reality! More than anything, we need your time, expertise, and enthusiasm. Check out our volunteering page to learn about ways you can get involved.

At Sustainable Milton, we're excited to celebrate this milestone and grateful to everyone who helped make it happen. We look forward to continuing to work with Town leaders and residents to turn this achievement into lasting progress.

Congratulations, Milton!

Read the October 21 announcement from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to learn more.