Stockbridge Green Committee votes to send electric small-engine purchasing policy to Select Board

Other Committee · Meeting of July 8, 2026

LENOX — Stockbridge Green Committee votes to recommend electric small-engine purchasing policy to Select Board. The committee voted unanimously at its July 8 meeting to advance a revised environmentally preferable product purchasing policy that would require town departments to consider battery-powered alternatives to gasoline-powered small off-road equipment — including leaf blowers, lawnmowers, and string trimmers — when feasible. The revision, more than a year in the making, was prompted by a commercial gas-powered lawnmower purchased at a town warrant meeting without going through the existing policy review process; Town Administrator Michael had been consulted the day before and expressed no objections.

The committee also heard a presentation from Berkshire Regional Planning Commission representative Christina on programs including the Mass Save Community First Partnership, the biannual REBA technical assistance grant, and new state solar siting regulations that as of July 1 require municipalities to begin accepting consolidated permit applications. Separately, the committee is racing to complete a one-million-dollar green communities competitive grant application for solar installations on town buildings, due to the Department of Energy Resources on August 7, prepared with state-approved vendor Select Energy.

In the full story:

• Presentation by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
• Small Off-Road Engine Policy — Recommendation to Select Board
• Solar Competitive Grant Application — August 7 Deadline
• PACE Program and Residential Energy Financing
• Other Updates
• Who Was There
• The complete report — 2,926 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of July 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.