The Green Dalton Committee’s mission is to identify, investigate and recommend to the Select Board various initiatives which protect the community’s natural resources and enhance environmental health and sustainability in Dalton.

The Green Dalton Committee was established in 2013 by the Dalton Select Board.  The Committee consists of up to 7 community members appointed by the Select Board. There are currently 4 members.

Meetings: The Green Dalton Committee meets monthly, as required to manage ongoing projects. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 4:00 PM at the Dalton Senior Center. Meetings are posted to mytowngovernment.org/01226.

There are currently three vacancies on this committee. Please reach out to us or the Town Manager’s Office if you are interested.

Dalton is a Massachusetts designated Green Community.

As such, Dalton is eligible for state green grants intended to support projects that reduce energy use in municipal facilities.  Since its inception in 2014, The committee has secured over $385K in grants to finance these municipal energy saving efforts. These include installation of LED lighting in Town Hall, Library, Senior Center, the conversion of over 700 town streetlights from HPS to LED bulbs, the acquisition of two electric vehicles as well as other energy savings projects.  These have reduced town energy use by approximately 25% and utility expenses by $75K/year.

The committee was instrumental in achieving significant improvements to the town CCA program, resulting in decreases to residential electricity rates and sourcing energy from green providers. The committee continues to pursue annual grants of up to $200K to support efforts that promote community sustainability, including Massachusetts goals of eliminating fossil fuel use.  Future efforts include insulation of the Town Hall buildings and conversion of heating units from gas and oil to electric heat pumps.

In 1911 President William Taft planted a young oak tree at the Dalton estate of Winthrop Crane, now the Sugar Hill Senior Living Community.  Today the tree is alive and well.  The tree helps to improve the air by producing oxygen and sequestering carbon.  The tree also improves water quality by reducing stormwater runoff. (Benefits of trees at arborday.org)