The Berkshire Brownfields Program was created in 2004 when the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) received its first grant from EPA to conduct environmental assessments at Brownfields sites. Since then, the Berkshire Brownfields Program has grown to include an Assessment Program for Phase I, II & III Environmental Site Assessments, a Revolving Loan Fund for Brownfields Cleanups, and site specific Cleanup Projects

This web resource provides information on the clean energy programs that help make clean energy technology more affordable for residential customers in Massachusetts. Each program highlights the key program offerings and the first step for customers to take advantage of the program.

The Rest of River Municipal Committee was created in 2013 to advocate common Housatonic River cleanup goals for Rest of River to the EPA. The Committee includes the towns of Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Sheffield, and Stockbridge. BRPC provides technical, fiduciary, facilitation, and coordination assistance to the Committee.

BRPC is working with the Town of Adams, the City of North Adams, Berkshire Gas and National Grid to implement the Mass Save Community First Partnership. During the next two years, the team will work with a wide range of community-based organizations to plan and execute public education and outreach, such as marketing and/or participation in local events to drive measurable uptake in residential weatherization, residential heating system upgrades, and Small Business Turnkey program participation. Through the Mass Save Community First Partnership, the team will strive to better serve customers who have not participated in energy efficiency programs and who are in need of targeted approaches to increase access and participation.

BRPC is providing assistance to the Town of Adams to manage a competitive grant for various energy efficiency projects awarded to the Town by the MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER). BRPC will provide grant administration, interface with DOER, serve as a liaison between the contractor and the Town, and develop outreach materials.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide professional planning assistance to the Town of Adams to maintain compliance with the NPDES Phase II MS4 General Permit.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission has established a Revolving Loan Fund to lend funds for clean up activities. This fund will provide subordinated loans and sub grants to enhance the credit worthiness of conventional or other traditional loans and funds and may fill funding gaps in the financial mix of a project.

BRPC is working with the Town of Cheshire to select energy efficiency projects that it will implement using it’s designation grant funds through the Green Communities program. Once projects are selected, BRPC will assist the town with grant reporting requirements, a public relations campaign, contractor management, analyzing the town’s municipal energy usage, and other general Green Communities program maintenance.

BRPC is working with the Town of Cheshire to complete a combined Hazard Mitigation and Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Plan. This plan will identify and prepare the town for hazards especially in terms of climate change. There will be a focus on the impact of historical events and vulnerabilities, as well as future actions needed to mitigate impacts on the town infrastructure, the environment, society, and vulnerable populations.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is assisting the Town of Cheshire in staying in compliance with the Phase II NPDES MS4 General Permit, which regulates stormwater runoff in the urbanized area of Cheshire.

BRPC is helping assist the Briggsville Water District, which supplies drinking water to 10% of Clarksburg, MA, in identifying and developing grant applications to make necessary upgrades to the Red Springs water supply infrastructure.

BRPC is assisting Clarksburg build flood resiliency through a community-drive design process in the Four Corners area of Town. This area includes the main community's gathering places namely the Community/Senior Center, the Town Field, and Clarksburg School. The project will look at how the space can integrate stormwater infrastructure and redesign community assets to be more accessible and usable. Part of this project involves a Student Design Challenge in partnership with Clarksburg School and Flying Cloud, as well as community design charrette and ADA accessibility.

BRPC is providing assistance to the Town of Clarksburg to manage a competitive grant for a weatherization and lighting project awarded to the Town by the MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER). This project includes energy efficiency measures implemented at the Town Hall and the Elementary School. BRPC will provide grant administration, interface with DOER, serve as a liaison between the contractor and the Town, and develop outreach materials.

As a follow-up to Clarksburg's Hazard Mitigation Planning, BRPC is serving the Town as their MVP Provider. As such, BRPC will guide Clarksburg in preparing for the impacts of climate change through a Community Resilience Building Workshop in which stakeholders will identify Climate Preparedness Actions.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide professional planning assistance to the Town of Dalton to maintain compliance with the NPDES Phase II MS4 General Permit.

The Decarbonizing Berkshire County Through Municipal Energy Self-Sufficiency project aims to assist the region to get ahead of the curve and prepare for the future in the rapidly advancing areas of green energy. Through this project BRPC will work with participating communities to explore solar, battery storage, and EV charging from three perspectives relevant to municipalities: 1) regulatory/permitting; 2) long-range planning/siting; and 3) energy consumption (i.e., municipal solar, EV for municipal fleets). Through this project communities will be equipped to plan ahead and prepare for the future by identifying potential barriers, pitfalls, perverse incentives, as well as ways to intentionally incentivize certain types of development or design components. It is also critical for communities to get ahead of the curve in their role as an energy consumer.

BRPC has received a grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (MassCEC) EmPower Massachusetts (EmPower) Program to lead an effort collaborating with the City of Pittsfield, Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Center for EcoTechnology, and Berkshire Community Action Council. The grant will be used to perform research on the mechanisms for addressing the landlord/renter split incentive challenge which includes an analysis of Pittsfield’s market conditions, researching nationwide case studies for related program models and tools to address the challenges, options for energy efficiency, development of an outreach and education campaign for landlords and renters, and seeking potential local energy efficiency coaches.

BRPC is working with the Towns of Great Barrington and Lee, Berkshire Gas, Eversource and National Grid to implement the Mass Save Community First Partnership. During the next two years, the team will work with a wide range of community-based organizations to plan and execute public education and outreach, such as marketing and/or participation in local events to drive measurable uptake in residential weatherization, residential heating system upgrades, and Small Business Turnkey program participation. Through the Mass Save Community First Partnership, the team will strive to better serve customers who have not participated in energy efficiency programs and who are in need of targeted approaches to increase access and participation.

The Town of Great Barrington Ried Cleaners Cleanup Grant is a competitive grant awarded to the Town of Great Barrington from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Through this project the Town of Great Barrington will hire environmental professionals to conduct remediation actions at the former Ried Cleaners property.  This project will follow work conducted by EPA Emergency Response.  BRPC will assist the Town to conduct programmatic activities necessary to carry out activities under the grant, including EPA reporting, procurement of a Licensed Site Professional and remediation contractors, community outreach, and general coordination with EPA under a Cooperative Agreement.

BRPC is helping the Town of Hancock develop a FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan. This will determine the greatest risks to the town, how climate change exacerbates these risks, and develop actions to mitigate impacts. This process will also make the Town MVP Certified community.

The Healthy and Efficient Homes Pilot Project seeks to address indoor environmental hazards and energy efficiency issues in homes within the Morningside and Westside neighborhoods in Pittsfield. This project aims to improve the overall health and safety of housing units in response to the myriad of health inequities experienced by residents and common hazards found in older homes, especially those that have been poorly maintained. BRPC will partner with Habitat for Humanity as well as Berkshire Environmental Action Team, and engage with the City of Pittsfield Community Development and Health Departments to implement this program.

Four communities (Lenox, Pittsfield, Stockbridge, and New Marlborough) will embark on regional, community-wide culvert assessments of approximately 400 culverts, and design the replacement of three priority culverts. A unique feature to this project is the component of youth development—youth from Environmental Justice communities will be hired to conduct the assessments. Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) is supporting this project by providing overall grant administration and acting as the community liaison during outreach activities.

The Berkshire Cold, Clean, Connected Partnership is a collaboration with environmental organizations Housatonic Valley Association, Hoosic River Watershed Association, Farmington River Watershed Organizations, and Berkshire Environmental Action Team with the goal of catalyzing ecological restoration projects in Berkshire Rivers and Streams that protect cold-water fisheries, remove barriers to aquatic connectivity, and enhance clean, healthy rivers throughout Berkshire County.

BRPC is working with the Housatonic Valley Association to develop a regional Culvert Replacement Cooperative. As part of this, BRPC will determine the feasibility of group purchasing for culvert replacements and connect with county communities and local highway superintendents to assess the challenges and long-term benefits of culvert replacement according to Massachusetts Road-Stream Crossing Standards. 

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide professional planning assistance to the Town of Lanesborough for the purpose of providing assistance and guidance to the Town Manager and the Department of Public Works to implement the Town of Lanesborough Stormwater Management Plan and maintain compliance with the NPDES Phase II General Permit.

BRPC is assisting the Town of Lee to complete a FEMA and Massachusetts MVP State approved Hazard Mitigation Plan and Climate Adaptation Plan through the MVP Planning Process.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will aid the Town of Lenox in completing the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning process to achieve MVP community designation and update the Town's Hazard Mitigation Plan.

BRPC is working with funding through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s EmPower program to expand awareness and access to Mass Save. During the next two years, the team will work with a wide range of community-based organizations and Towns throughout the Berkshires to plan and execute public education and outreach, such as marketing and/or participation in local events to drive measurable uptake in residential weatherization, residential heating system upgrades, and Small Business Turnkey program participation. Through this program we aim to bolster the support for existing Community First Partnership towns and expand access to the resources and support available through Mass Save. Our team will strive to better serve customers who have not participated in energy efficiency programs and who need targeted approaches to increase access and participation.

BRPC is assisting the Town of Monterey through their Phase II MVP Action Grant to replace the Route 23/Main St. Culvert near Town Hall. This project is a climate adaptation effort to make Town Hall and essential facilities less vulnerable to increased storms. Monterey is working with GZA to complete final engineering designs and permitting. BRPC is helping with outreach, project, and grant administration, including rain garden construction on private property and a climate resilience guide for homeowners.

BRPC is working with the Town of Mount Washington to complete a combined Hazard Mitigation and Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan. This plan will not only identify and prepare the town for current hazards but look forward to how climate change will impact emergency preparedness needs, the environment, and vulnerable populations in the area.

BRPC is working with the Town of Mount Washington to complete a combined Hazard Mitigation and Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan. This plan will not only identify and prepare the town for current hazards but look forward to how climate change will impact emergency preparedness needs, the environment, and vulnerable populations in the area.

The project goals are to provide services in support of the Nonpoint Source Program by assigning BRPC staff to serve as Regional Coordinator to conduct work that is focused on NPS. It will include a collaborative watershed-based planning approach across sub-watersheds, outreach and education efforts, identification and prioritization of regional NPS priorities, development of watershed-based plans, development and submittal of high-quality proposals for funding under the 319 competitive grant program, and any other activities that will further the goals of the Nonpoint Source Program especially objectives and milestones identified in the 2020-2024 Massachusetts Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan.

BRPC is assisting the City of North Adams in managing the funding it received to make energy efficiency upgrades to municipal buildings and vehicles through the Green Communities Competitive Grant program. Projects include weatherization and insulation at City Hall, weatherization at the Public Safety complex, a LED lighting upgrade at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, a transformer upgrade at the Vietnam Veterans Ice Rink, and partial funding towards the purchase of a hybrid police cruiser, which are estimated to save a combined 681 MMBTU of energy and $26,197 annually. BRPC will assist the City with grant reporting requirements, a public relations campaign, contractor management, and analyzing the City’s municipal energy usage.

The goal of the Brownfields Assessment Project is to target contaminated petroleum and hazardous waste sites in Berkshire County, leading to remediation and reuse. This project will retain and promote employment in core developed areas, protect the health and safety of traditional neighborhoods, and maintain the rural character of outlying areas. BRPC has been awarded $500,000 in EPA funding.

BRPC will assist Mass Audubon and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments to recruit stakeholders within Berkshire County members of the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership. BRPC will also participate in period meetings of the stakeholder group.

BRPC will provide grant administration assistance for a Green Communities Competitive Grant awarded to the Town by the MA Department of Energy Resources. The grant funds will be used for the installation of heat pumps at the Town Hall Annex and the library, which will off-set the current oil fuel boilers, which will remain in place solely as a backup heat source.  The heat pump systems will increase efficiency in the buildings while also reducing the Town’s dependence on fossil fuels.  In addition, the systems will result in a significant reduction in the Town’s heating cost.

The Berkshire County Clean Air Project will expand indoor and outdoor air monitoring within Berkshire County. BRPC, with its project partners, will engage all communities in Berkshire County containing EJ populations; BRPC will then obtain outdoor air sensors, equitably and collaboratively site them, and build capacity for ongoing community air quality monitoring. Indoor and outdoor sensor deployment will be accompanied by extensive community outreach and municipalities and local groups will utilize data to guide regional planning initiatives.

BRPC is working with the Town of Monterey to install drainage infrastructure and stormwater control measures along a 1000-foot section of Hupi Rd., a dirt road within the Lake Garfield Watershed. The goal of this construction is to better manage stormwater pollution caused by sediment and phosphorus by improving drainage, managing sediments and infiltration local stormwater prior to it reaching Lake Garfield. BRPC will be helping manage grant, perform outreach, and secure subcontractors to do final engineering and permitting.

Having recently completed Hazard Mitigation Planning, BRPC will serve as the MVP provider for Washington to complete their Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Planning. This project will review the hazards and actions highlighted in the Hazard Mitigation Planning process and utilize the MVP Community Resilience Building Workshop process to further develop climate change mitigation actions.

BRPC is providing assistance to the Town of West Stockbridge to manage their Green Communities designation grant awarded to the Town by the MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER). BRPC will provide grant administration, interface with DOER, serve as a liaison between contractors and the Town, and develop outreach materials.

BRPC is working with the Town of Williamstown, Berkshire Gas and National Grid to implement the Mass Save Community First Partnership. During the next three years, the team will work with a wide range of community-based organizations to plan and execute public education and outreach, such as marketing and/or participation in local events to drive measurable uptake in residential weatherization, residential heating system upgrades, and Small Business Turnkey program participation. Through the Mass Save Community First Partnership, the team will strive to better serve customers who have not participated in energy efficiency programs and who are in need of targeted approaches to increase access and participation.

As part of the Stockbridge Bowl Management Project (2009-2012), BRPC drafted this report in an effort to identify and begin to address nonpoint pollution sources in the Stockbridge Bowl Watershed.  Due to the size of the report, it has been divided ...