LWSC nets $150G grant

LYNN – The Lynn Water and Sewer Commission (LWSC) was one of two regional wastewater treatment facilities to receive state grants Friday to pay for needed equipment replacement.The LWSC was awarded $150,000 from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).Ian Bowles, commissioner of the state agency, said the grants were created from revenue generated by the auction of carbon emissions permits under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – a first in the nation’s multi-state effort to cap and reduce power plant pollution that causes global warming.The $2.7 million in grants to 13 communities, including two school districts, will pay for energy efficiency upgrades identified through the Department of Energy Resources’ (DOER) municipal Energy Audit Program.”We are partnering with cities and towns to fund projects that will save money and energy in public libraries, city and town halls, schools, police and fire stations and other municipal buildings across the commonwealth,” Bowles said.Proceeds from the state’s first auction of carbon-emissions permits, held last September, will fund grants to cover the full cost of implementing DOER audit-identified measures in each eligible community.Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration has been ramping up initiatives designed to reduce energy usage across the state and increase renewable energy sources as part of the Green Communities Act.”Making these efficiency upgrades will cut city and town energy bills, and significantly reduce emissions of global warming pollution,” said DOER Commissioner Phil Giudice. “While making buildings tighter and more comfortable, these investments will also create jobs, putting people to work upgrading our municipal infrastructure.”The recipient communities were notified of their eligibility for new DOER grants to improve energy efficiency in a variety of municipal buildings. The projects ranged from space heating improvements, insulation, and lighting upgrades to new doors and windows and boiler and burner replacement.