Brookline staff outline Climate Leaders Communities program; town to apply if roadmap, vehicle policy completed

Alexandra Vecchio, Brooklines director of sustainability and natural resources, briefed the Select Board on the new Climate Leaders Communities program run by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. The program builds on the states existing Green Communities initiative and offers technical-assistance grants and project funding of up to $1 million for municipal decarbonization projects.

Vecchio told the board the town already meets several program prerequisites and is targeting a December 2025 application deadline. Key requirements still in progress include a municipal decarbonization roadmap (work for which the town has obtained grant funding) and a strengthened town fleet-purchase policy prioritizing zero-emission vehicles where feasible. "Becoming a certified Climate Leader Community opens up some resources, technical resources, and grant funding for participating communities," Vecchio said.

The available grant categories include technical-assistance awards for decarbonization planning and larger grants for municipal projects that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in town operations, such as electrifying municipal heating and cooling systems or installing rooftop solar on municipal buildings. Vecchio said these municipal grants generally apply to municipal operations
buildings and fleet
and that Brookline will use the municipal decarbonization roadmap to prioritize which projects to advance.

The Select Board asked about timing and departmental coordination. Vecchio said the climate action and resiliency plan the town is drafting will align with this work and that staff expect to return to the board in the fall with the municipal roadmap and a revised vehicle policy. Board members noted the importance of tying the roadmap into other ongoing planning efforts and capital decisions.

Ending: Town staff will return with a municipal decarbonization roadmap and a strengthened zero-emission vehicle procurement policy so Brookline can apply to the Climate Leaders Communities program in the December round and pursue technical-assistance and project grants in 2026.