After hearing questions from Planning Board members about the criteria required to earn a "Green Community" designation, Chair Arnie Johnson brought in Seth Pickering, head of the southeast region for the state Department of Energy Resources, to provide in-depth answers on July 10.

The criteria include having a plan to decrease municipal energy consumption by 20 percent in five years, replacing various municipal vehicles with energy-efficient ones, having a designated area where solar panels can be installed without special permitting, and adopting building codes that require builders of new homes and commercial buildings to use more energy-efficient methods.

“Our function is to help all municipalities in the state with energy-related issues,” Pickering said. “Process-wise, you’re right on schedule for applying for next year.”

When Planning Board members questioned the benefit of becoming a Green Community, Pickering touted the grant opportunities.

“Once you’re designated as a Green Community, you get an initial grant based on the income and population of the town,” he said. “Then, you’re eligible for competitive grants every year.”

Grants can be used to pay for things such as municipal lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements.

“It’s a lot of things you may see on your capital plan,” Pickering said. “It’s a nice little extra to not have to pay out of pocket.”

Selectman Woody Hartley was also in attendance at the meeting, and voiced his support for Green Communities.

“The basic energy budget in Rochester in town buildings is $275,000,” he said. “So we could be targeting $55,000 in savings per year.”

He specifically cited the Council on Aging building, which he said is now 17 years old and with an aging boiler and air conditioning system.

“We can get a more energy efficient boiler through grant money,” Hartley said.