Danvers Is Leaving Millions on the Table
301 Massachusetts communities have joined the Green Communities program and received over $209 million in state grants for energy projects. Danvers is one of roughly 50 that haven’t joined yet. Here’s what that means for you.
What Is Green Communities?
The Massachusetts Green Communities program, created by the Green Communities Act of 2008, provides grants to cities and towns that meet five energy-related criteria. These grants fund practical projects in municipal buildings, schools, and operations — such as replacing aging HVAC systems with heat pumps, upgrading lighting to LEDs, weatherizing buildings, and transitioning fleet vehicles to electric.
The program is not partisan. It is a fiscal tool. Communities use it to reduce operating costs, avoid deferred maintenance, and fund projects they need to do anyway — with state money instead of local tax dollars.
Since 2010, the program has awarded $209 million across 301 communities, representing over 92% of the state’s population.
Why Now?
Danvers was shut out of this program for over a decade. Because Danvers is served by a municipal electric utility, it was ineligible under the original program rules. That changed in September 2022, when Governor Baker signed Chapter 230 of the Acts of 2022, allowing municipal utility towns to opt in individually.
Since that door opened, communities have been moving quickly:
Meanwhile, Danvers has not yet applied. Every year we wait, those grant dollars go to other communities.
What could Danvers receive? Based on the designation grant formula, Danvers could expect a $170,000 to $190,000 designation grant upon achieving Green Communities status. After that, Danvers would be eligible for competitive grants of up to $250,000 per year (or $500,000 for comprehensive decarbonization projects), with multiple application rounds per year.
What Our Neighbors Have Received
The following communities surround Danvers. Every one of them is a Green Community. Every one has received state funding. Danvers has received zero.
| Community | Designated | Grants | Total Funding | Energy Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beverly | 2011 | 7 | $1,287,427 | Specialized |
| Salem | 2011 | 8 | $1,555,594 | Specialized |
| Gloucester | 2010 | 8 | $1,299,272 | Stretch |
| Swampscott | 2010 | 9 | $1,444,366 | Specialized |
| Hamilton | 2010 | 8 | $1,534,848 | Stretch |
| Wenham | 2010 | 9 | $1,525,118 | Specialized |
| Saugus | 2015 | 7 | $1,238,432 | Stretch |
| Ipswich | 2020 | 4 | $1,016,700 | Stretch |
| Rockport | 2017 | 4 | $750,388 | Stretch |
| Topsfield | 2011 | 5 | $329,254 | Stretch |
| Peabody | 2024 | 1 | $271,560 | Stretch |
| DANVERS | Not yet | 0 | $0 | Base Code |
Not the Barrier You Think
Of the five criteria to become a Green Community, the Stretch Energy Code (Criterion 5) has historically generated the most discussion in Danvers. Here are the facts.
What the Stretch Code Actually Is
The Stretch Code is a more energy-efficient building code that applies only to new construction, large additions, and major renovations. It does not require homeowners to change anything about their current property.
On average, only 12 new homes are built and fewer than 40 undergo major renovation in Danvers each year.
Under the Stretch Code, new homes must meet a performance-based energy standard (measured by a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score) rather than just checking boxes on a prescriptive list. This means a third-party energy expert verifies the home is designed and built to actually perform as expected — which is an important protection for the homeowner and any future buyer.
Your Neighbors Already Have It
Every single community bordering Danvers has adopted the Stretch Code. Some have had it for 15 years. Several have gone even further, adopting the Specialized Stretch Code, which has additional requirements around electrification and solar readiness:
- Beverly — Stretch Code since 2011, now on Specialized Code
- Salem — Stretch Code since 2011, now on Specialized Code
- Swampscott — Stretch Code since 2010, now on Specialized Code
- Wenham — Stretch Code since 2010, now on Specialized Code
- Gloucester — Stretch Code since 2010
- Hamilton — Stretch Code since 2010
- Topsfield — Stretch Code since 2011
- Saugus — Stretch Code since 2015
Contractors building in these communities are already experienced with the Stretch Code. This is not a new or unfamiliar standard for the local construction industry. As of March 2026, 243 of Massachusetts’ 351 municipalities have adopted the Stretch Code, covering nearly 60% of the state’s population, and another 59 have gone further to the Specialized Code, covering 92% of the population in the state.
What It Costs (And Saves)
DOER commissioned independent cost-benefit studies comparing homes built to the Stretch Code vs. the Base Code. The key finding: all-electric Stretch Code homes are actually cheaper to build and operate than gas-heated Base Code homes — because heat pumps handle both heating and cooling, eliminating the need for a separate AC system.
From the DOER case studies (Stretch Code HERS 42 vs. Base Code HERS 52):
| Home Size | Fuel Type | Builder Cost Difference | Annual Resident Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,000 sq ft | All-Electric | Saves $20,062 | Saves $548/year |
| 2,100 sq ft | All-Electric | Saves $28,597 | Saves $1,053/year |
| Townhouse | All-Electric | Saves $11,492 | Saves $316/year |
| Multi-family (per unit) | All-Electric | Saves $15,690 | Saves $683/year |
| 4,000 sq ft | Gas | Adds $3,184 | Saves $302/year |
| 2,100 sq ft | Gas | Adds $7,907 | Adds $496/year |
* Note construction costs in Davnvers likely to be higher with fewer rebates and energy savings will be higher due to lower electric rates vs investor-owned utilities.
What counts as a major renovation?
A project counts as a major renovation and would need to meet the requirements of the Stretch Code if the renovation project area is:
For more information, visit these resources:
How the Three Energy Codes Compare
Massachusetts has three levels of building energy code. All are based on the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2021 with Massachusetts-specific amendments. Here is how they compare at a high level for new residential construction:
| Feature | Base Code | Stretch Code | Specialized Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | 780 CMR Ch. 11R | 225 CMR Ch. 22 | 225 CMR Ch. 22 + Appendix RC |
| Required for | All MA communities (default) | Green Community designation | Climate Leader designation |
| Compliance method | Prescriptive OR performance | Performance-based (HERS rating required) | Performance-based (HERS rating required) |
| HERS target (all-electric) | HERS 52 | HERS 45 | HERS 45 |
| HERS target (fossil fuel) | HERS 52 | HERS 42 | HERS 42 |
| Third-party verification | Not required | Yes (HERS rater) | Yes (HERS rater) |
| Electrification | Not addressed | Not required but incentivized via easier HERS target | Required for homes over 4,000 sq ft; mixed-fuel can be allowed with large solar offset |
| On-site solar | Solar-ready roof only | Solar-ready roof only | Required for mixed-fuel homes (min 4kW); optional for all-electric |
| EV-ready wiring | 10% of parking spaces (multifamily) | 20% of spaces, or 1 per home (single family & duplex) | 20% of spaces, or 1 per home (single family & duplex) |
| Forces changes to existing homes | No | No | No |
| # of MA communities | ~50 (shrinking) | 243 | 58 |
| % of MA population | ~8% | ~60% | ~33% |
| Key difference from prior level | Minimum standard | Performance-based approach with independent verification | Net-zero 2050 alignment: electrification pathways, solar for fossil fuel use, pre-wiring |
The Stretch Code is the middle tier.
It requires more energy-efficient new construction verified by a third party, but it does NOT require electrification, does NOT mandate solar panels, and does NOT force changes to existing buildings on its own. For all-electric new homes (which is where the market is heading), the Stretch Code and Specialized Code requirements are essentially the same.
If you are building anywhere in Beverly, Salem, Swampscott, Wenham, Gloucester, Hamilton, Saugus, Topsfield, Ipswich, Rockport, or Peabody, you are already building to the Stretch Code or higher. Danvers adopting the Stretch Code would not change what you are already doing.
In addition, there is FREE online training provided by Mass Save throughout the year.
How Danvers Compares to Other MLP Towns
Danvers is one of approximately 41 Massachusetts communities with electric customers served by a municipal light plant (MLP). These towns were not eligible for Green Communities until the 2022 law change. Since then, many have moved quickly. Several MLP towns that designated years earlier were early adopters who found cooperative workarounds before the law formally opened individual enrollment.
| Community | Year Designated | Grants | Funding | Energy Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Littleton | 2015 | 7 | $1,285,360 | Stretch |
| Holyoke | 2010 | 6 | $1,110,822 | Stretch |
| Ipswich | 2020 | 4 | $1,016,700 | Stretch |
| Shrewsbury | 2018 | 5 | $875,514 | Stretch |
| Concord | 2013 | 5 | $834,342 | Specialized |
| Wellesley | 2017 | 4 | $804,492 | Specialized |
| Belmont | 2014 | 3 | $626,850 | Specialized |
| Hingham | 2018 | 3 | $532,707 | Specialized |
| Norwood | 2020 | 3 | $585,227 | Specialized |
| Wakefield | 2022 | 1 | $189,100 | Specialized |
| Peabody | 2024 | 1 | $271,560 | Stretch |
| Reading | 2025 | 1 | $161,520 | Stretch |
| DANVERS | Not yet | 0 | $0 | Base Code |
Projects Green Communities Could Fund in Danvers
Green Communities grants fund practical, needed municipal projects. Example types of projects that Green Communities grants have funded in communities like Danvers:
-
HVAC system replacements with heat pumps (Ipswich received $250,000 in 2026 towards projects that will reduce annual cost by $200,000+)
We could: Convert Thorpe School oil burner to something cleaner
- LED lighting retrofits in schools, libraries, and municipal buildings
-
Building weatherization and air sealing
We could: Replace Riverside School roof and update/replace deck insulation to meet stretch code
-
Energy management system upgrades
We could: Increase BMS/automation in buildings without systems
- Electric vehicle fleet purchases and EV charging infrastructure
- Street and traffic light LED conversions
Get the Full Picture: Watch the Green Communities Webinar
Thank you to everyone who joined the June 3 Information Session. For those who were unable to attend, the presentation slides and recording are available below.
Sources & Citations
- Grant amounts: MA DOER Green Communities Grant Database, compiled by KLA team, current through April 28, 2026. mass.gov/info-details/green-communities-grant-program
- Number of Green Communities: 301 designated communities per DOER grant records.
- Statewide total ($209M+): Sum of all grants in DOER database through April 2026.
- Energy code adoption by municipality: mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-building-energy-code-adoption-by-municipality (map and list as of April 14, 2026).
- Stretch Code cost-benefit data: DOER Residential Stretch Code Costs and Benefits Case Studies. mass.gov/doc/residential-stretch-code-costs-and-benefits-case-studies
- Stretch Code FAQ: DOER Stretch Energy and Municipal Opt-In Specialized Building Code FAQ. mass.gov/doc/stretch-energy-and-municipal-opt-in-specialized-building-code-faq
- Three-tier code structure: DOER 2025 Massachusetts Building Energy Codes. mass.gov/info-details/2025-massachusetts-building-energy-codes
- Chapter 230 of the Acts of 2022: Legislation enabling individual MLP community opt-in to Green Communities.
- Green Communities Act of 2008: MGL establishing the program and Stretch Code requirement (Criterion 5).
- Population percentages by code level (8% base / 60% stretch / 33% specialized): DOER, as of March 2026.