McKeown to Get Heating, AC Upgrades with 'Green Communities' Money

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning improvements at McKeown School totaling nearly a quarter million dollars will be paid with grant money from the state government.

The money is to pay for “clean energy projects” and is coming to Beverly because of its designation as a Green Community, according to an announcement from state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett and state Department of Energy Resources Acting Commissioner Meg Lusardi.

In all, $7.9 million in grant money was awarded to fund dozens of clean energy projects in 43 communities across Massachusetts.

There will be $249,990 used to pay for three phases of improvements at the McKeown School on Balch Street, including $88,346 for Phase 1, an AC system upgrade; $79,710 for Phase 2, a heating system upgrade and $81,934 for Phase 3, for work on the unit ventilator controls.

The grants went to some of the 123 Green Communities that have successfully completed previously-awarded Green Communities grants. The awards are capped at $250,000 per community.

The grants are funded through proceeds from carbon allowance auctions under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The grant program’s goal is to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that further the clean energy goals of the Green Communities.