Senator Eldridge and Representative Hogan Announce $500,000 Renewable Energy Grant for Hudson Town Hall
Funding will support cost-effective, energy-efficient improvements
Hudson, MA – State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) and State Representative Kate Hogan (D-Stow) are pleased to announce that the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has awarded $500,000 to support major energy efficiency improvements at Hudson Town Hall.
The grant will fund the installation of a heat pump system, advancing the town’s decarbonization goals while reducing long-term energy costs. Heat pumps are a highly efficient alternative to traditional furnaces and air conditioning units. By transferring rather than producing heat, they use significantly less energy: in winter, they draw warmth from the outside air to heat indoor spaces, while in summer they remove heat from inside and release it outdoors. This efficiency helps lower electricity bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Additional renovations at Hudson Town Hall will include the installation of a new chiller, Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems, and a Building Management System (BMS). Chillers are a key component of large-scale cooling systems, while VAV systems and BMS technology improve the distribution and regulation of cool air throughout a building. Together, these upgrades will significantly reduce the building’s overall energy consumption and electricity costs.
This investment is funded through the Green Communities Division’s competitive grant program, administered by the Department of Energy Resources. The Green Communities program provides municipalities with both financial support and technical assistance to implement renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects.
“The renovation of Hudson Town Hall’s cooling system shows how electrification can deliver both environmental and economic benefits,” said State Senator Jamie Eldridge. “I’m grateful to DOER Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney, Town Manager Thomas Gregory, and the Hudson Select Board for their leadership. Hudson is setting an example for other Massachusetts communities by advancing sustainability through smart, cost-efficient projects.”
"I'm thrilled that, with this vital grant money, the Town of Hudson can replace its HVAC system with a clean-energy all-electric system,” said State Representative Kate Hogan. “The previous HVAC system at Hudson's historic Town Hall had outlived its expected lifetime and purchasing an in-kind replacement for the existing chiller would have been less expensive, but would have lacked any improvements in energy efficiency. Through the help of the Green Communities Decarbonization Grant, Hudson will be able to convert the existing gas-powered system to electric heat pumps and subsequently cut down on its energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. We are grateful to Secretary Tepper, Commissioner Mahoney, and the Healey-Driscoll Administration and congratulate Hudson Town officials for moving forward with their decarbonization efforts."
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