It took the City awhile to gain Green Community status. In April, Peabody received $271,500 that must be spent before applications for grant funds can be submitted. The next grant opportunity is Spring 2025.
At a meeting of the Committee on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on July 11, Director of Community Development Curt Bellavance explained the plan to spend the $271,500 designation grant. He reported an assessment of city-owned buildings has been conducted and that the City worked with National Grid on heating issues and with PMLP on lighting issues. Weatherization priorities were identified, including some low priority buildings with an uncertain future: the curent police station and high school.
One of the higher priority buildings for weatherization work is Peabody City Hall. The cost of the improvements is estimated at $54,000 and, of that, $34,000 will be funded by National Grid; the remainder will be paid by rhe Green Community Designation Grant.
A lighting project to be funded is for the Torigian Life Center. “We are trying to maximize the benefit of working with the grant funding available from National Grid,” said Bellavance. “We believe there’s going to be a good payback on that work.”
Another potential priority for some city buildings is heat pumps. Over the summer break, work done for schools was estimated to result in savings of $25,000.
The Subcommittee requested Bellavance return to the council to provide updates on existing projects and grant application ideas for submission in the Spring.
