State and Local Policy Database

Springfield

City Scorecard Rank

49

Springfield, MA

26.00Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 2.5 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All

Climate Mitigation Goal

The Climate Action and Resilience Plan includes a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 2015 by 2050. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.

Energy Efficiency Goal

The Climate Action and Resilience Plan includes a goal to increase the rate of energy audits 20% by 2020 and complete 100% of the recommended residential work by 2025.

Renewable Energy Goal

The Climate Action and Resilience Plan includes a goal to use solar energy to meet 10% of community energy needs by 2022 and 50% by 2050.

Last updated: August 2023

Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All

Equity-Driven Community Engagement

Prior to developing the city’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan, Springfield conducted a vulnerability analysis to identify the city’s most at-risk communities. The city then conducted two out of three workshops in socially vulnerable communities to solicit input to be used towards development of the plan.

Equity-Driven Decision-Making

We were unable to determine if the city has created a formal role for marginalized community residents or local organizations representing those communities to participate in decision-making that affects the creation or implementation of a local energy, sustainability, or climate action plan.

Equity Accountability Measures

The Climate Action and Resilience Plan has a goal to ensure 50% of all low-income utility accounts receive a 50% or greater discount from community solar projects by 2022.

Last updated: August 2023

Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All

The City of Springfield supported the creation of a community solar project by serving as an anchor subscriber to the project. The system will provide direct utility bill reductions to low-income households. 

Last updated: August 2023

Adaptive Mitigation List All

Heat Island Mitigation Policies and Programs

We were unable to determine if the city has adopted specific policies or programs that incorporate requirements or incentives to mitigate the urban heat island effect. 

Resilience Hubs

We were unable to determine if the city has supported the creation of resilience hubs that incorporate clean energy resources and are sited in disadvantaged communities.

Last updated: August 2023

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All

Workforce development for disadvantaged workers

We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from disadvantaged communities to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.

Workforce development for the broader community

We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from the broader community to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.

Outcomes tracking

We could not determine if the city has instituted a mechanism to measure the performance and/or success of equitable workforce development initiatives focused on the clean energy sector.

Last updated: August 2023

Buildings Policies
Score: 8 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All

Overview

Massachusetts law requires statewide adoption of each new International Energy Conservation Code edition within one year of its publication. Massachusetts adopted the 2018 IECC for commercial and residential buildings. Massachusetts allows its local jurisdictions to upgrade their energy codes with a state-determined stretch code. To learn more about the building energy codes required in the State of Washington, please visit the State Policy Database.

Commercial

Springfield implements the State Building Code. The city’s zEPI score their commercial energy code is 46.5.

Residential

Springfield implements the State Building Code. The city’s zEPI score their commercial energy code is 51.68.

Solar-readiness policies

Massachusetts's Board of Building Regulations and Standards adopted solar-ready requirements for all new residential and commercial buildings 5 stories and under.

EV-charging readiness policies

Massachusetts includes EV readiness requirements in its mandatory commercial building code.

Low-energy use requirements 

We could not find information on whether the city sets low-energy use requirements for municipal or certain private buildings.

Electrification policies

We could not find information on whether the city has adopted any electrification policies.

Last Update: August 2023

Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All

Springfield requires plan reviews, site inspections, and performance testing. We were unable to determine the amount of staff effort dedicated to energy code enforcement. We could not find information regarding upfront support for code compliance from the city. Massachusetts’s Department of Energy Resources administers the Mass Save Program, which offers education and training on the state’s stretch-code, as well as in-person and online support. 

Last updated: August 2023

Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All

We could not find information on whether the city incentivizes energy-saving actions in existing buildings. 

Last Update: August 2023

Transportation
Score: 6 out of 30
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All

Sustainable Transportation Plan

Springfield's Climate Action and Resilience Plan was released in 2017 and includes sustainable transportation strategies.

VMT/GHG Target and Stringency

The City of Springfield does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target.

Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets

The City of Springfield does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.

Last Updated: September 2023

Location Efficiency List All

Location Efficient Zoning Codes

We were unable to find information indicating that the City of Springfield has made changes to its zoning code in the past 10 years to facilitate more residential density, mixed-use development, or transit-oriented development.

Parking Requirement

We were unable to find information indicating that the City of Springfield has at least one zone, neighborhood, or district with a parking maximum of 1 or fewer spaces per housing unit or no minimum parking requirement for residential uses.

Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure

The City of Springfield does not have location-efficient development incentives or disclosure policies.

Affordable Housing around Transit

The City of Springfield does not require, preserve, or incentivize the development of affordable housing near transit.

Last Updated: September 2023

Mode Shift List All

Mode Shift Targets

According to the city's Climate Action and Resilience Plan, adopted in 2017, the city has a goal of 55% of all commute trips being made by modes other than single-occupant vehicles by 2030.

Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets

According to data from the American Community Survey, the City of Springfield’s single-occupant vehicle mode share decreased from 79.5% in 2017 to 75% in 2021. Therefore, Springfield earned points for this metric.

Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options

We were unable to find information on programs or policies subsidizing access to efficient transportation for disadvantaged groups.

Last Updated: September 2023

Public Transit List All

Transit Funding

The transit entities that serve the City of Springfield have received $15,652,356.60 on average annually between 2017 and 2021 from local sources. That equates to roughly $27.20 per capita between 2017 and 2021 within the service area. 

Access to Transit Services

The AllTransit Performance Score measures a given community's transit access and performance. The score considers connections to other routes, access to jobs, service frequency, and the percent of commuters who ride transit to work. The City of Springfield's AllTransit Performance Score is 6.9, scoring 1 point in the City Scorecard.

Last Updated: September 2023

Efficient VehiclesList All

Efficient Vehicle Purchase Incentives

Neither the City of Springfield nor the local utility provide incentives for purchasing efficient vehicles.

Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Incentives

Eversource, a utility serving the City of Springfield, offers rebates of up to $700 for the installation of EV charging stations in single-family homes, as well as rebates of up to $1400 for those in environmental justice communities. Eversource also offers rebates of 50% of the cost of up to 10 Level 2 EV charging ports for commercial and large (5+ units) multifamily buildings, and 100% of the cost for commercial and large multifamily buildings in environmental justice communities.

Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirements

The City of Springfield does not require new developments to install EV charging stations.

EV Charging Ports

The City of Springfield has 67.5 vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.

Electric School Bus Goal

Neither the City of Springfield nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.

Electric Transit Bus Goal

Neither the City of Springfield nor the local transit agency have set an electric transit bus goal.

Last Updated: September 2023

Freight System EfficiencyList All

Sustainable Freight Plans

The City of Springfield does not have a sustainable freight plan or freight mobility plan in place, nor is it pursuing any freight efficiency strategies.

Open Data Portals

The City of Springfield does not have a sustainable freight plan or freight mobility plan in place, nor is it pursuing any freight efficiency strategies.

Last Updated: September 2023

Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 24 out of 40 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All

Eversource, an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric utility serving Springfield. Columbia Gas of Massachusetts is also an IOU and is Springfield’s primary gas utility. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires spending and savings targets for its utilities through an EERS. In 2021, Massachusetts passed new climate change legislation that sets new goals for emissions reductions and sets a path to net-zero emissions by 2050, while also increasing protections for Environmental Justice communities and procuring offshore wind energy by 2027. To learn more about utility policies and programs for the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts, please visit the State Policy Database

The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission is the municipal utility that provides the City of Springfield with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management. 

Last Updated: July 2023

Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All

In 2021, Eversource reported 477,124 MWh of net electric savings at the meter across the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not only Springfield. In 2021, Eversource spent $309,667,826 on electric energy efficiency programs. 

In 2021, w were unable to verify spending, savings, and customers served for Columbia Gas of Massachusetts.

Eversource offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers. Columbia Gas similarly offers natural gas efficiency tips and incentives to residential and business customers. 

Springfield has enrolled in the Community First Partnership initiative with Eversource.  The purpose of this initiative is, through community-level engagement, to increase participation in energy efficiency programs, specifically within the renter, low and moderate income, and English-isolated customer segments. 

For small businesses, the Eversource Main Streets program collaborates with community-based organizations to promote energy efficiency to small businesses in various city neighborhoods, intending to increase participation in efficiency programs by the smallest commercial customers. 

The City of Springfield has historically supported Eversource in building three solar facilities at Eversource properties in Springfield totaling over 8 MW DC of solar capacity. 

Last Updated: September 2023 

Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All

Low-Income Programs 

The state of Massachusetts is served by the Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN), which is a network of Community Action Agencies, public and private housing owners, government organizations and public utilities that work together to provide low-income efficiency solutions in the state. Through LEAN, Eversource and Columbia Gas of Massachusetts participate in the dual fuel Income Eligible Coordinated Delivery Core Initiative (formerly Low-Income Single Family and Low-Income Multi-Family), which serves customers at or below 60% of the state median income level for 1–4-unit buildings or buildings with 5+ units that have 50% of units are at or below 60% AMI. The initiative offers no cost measures such as lighting and smart strips, appliance replacement, water saving measures, insulation and air sealing, and heating system replacement.  

The program serves all income eligible customers that meet the program guidelines. Customers typically qualify for fuel assistance and other qualifying government assistance programs and the utility Discount Rate. Customers with a high WAP score and high energy burden are given priority. The initiative is implemented by local Community Action Program (CAP) Agencies and is integrated with the Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). There is also a statewide Energy Efficiency Advisory Council and an Income Eligible Best Practices Committee that provide guidance on income eligible utility-sponsored programs in the state.  

Customers typically qualify for fuel assistance and other qualifying government assistance programs and the utility Discount Rate. Customers with a high WAP score and high energy burden are given priority. CAP agencies leverage additional funding from the Department of Energy and DHCD for heating systems and health and safety repairs. CAPs leverage utility funds and WAP funds for repairs of health and safety measures such as knob and tube removal, asbestos removal, combustion safety, mold and moisture remediation, roof repair, pest remediation and others. Additionally, the City of Boston Credit Union became a Mass Save HEAT Loan Participating Lender by offering customers the opportunity to apply for 0% loans for the installation of qualified energy efficient improvements. 

In 2021, according to Eversource, it achieved 142,842 MWh in energy savings, while spending $30,567,314 on its low-income programs and serving 12,366 low-income customers. Data on spending, savings, and customers served for Columbia Gas of Massachusetts in 2021 was not available.  

Multifamily Programs 

Eversource offers a Residential Coordinated Delivery initiative, which includes services to single-family homes, including free-standing town homes, smaller multi-unit buildings, such as those with three stories or less, and larger multi-unit buildings, such as those with four stories or more, or with a centralized heating system. It offers energy assessments that identify all cost-effective efficiency improvement or replacement opportunities regardless of fuel source for market rate properties with four or more dwellings. Utilizing a “whole facility” approach, the assessments focus on a facility's thermal envelope (shell insulation and air leakage conditions) as well as lighting and mechanical systems. The program also assesses in-unit savings potential for tenants. Improvements that may be eligible for incentives include lighting upgrades/controls, occupancy sensors, water heating equipment, domestic hot water measures, programmable thermostats, insulation, air sealing, heating and cooling equipment upgrades/controls, ENERGY STAR appliances and other improvements as determined on a site-specific basis. Eligible measures for the program include insulation, air sealing, light fixtures, and hot water and heating equipment, as well as heating and cooling equipment, air compressors, and energy management systems. 

In 2019, according to Eversource, it achieved 12,610 Net Annual MWh Savings , while spending $16,315,962 in incentives on its multifamily programs and served 11,082 housing units. 

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts offers a Multifamily Buildings program, which provides whole building retrofits and partial payment for energy efficiency measure to units. Eligible measures include insulation, heating system replacement, air sealing, showerheads, and aerators. Savings, spending, and participation data for 2021 was not available. 

Last Updated: September 2023  

Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All

Eversource supports customer use of the Portfolio Manager platform, including assisting customers with collecting proper data and entering facility information, including the creation of ‘virtual meters’ within the tool to create whole-building data views.  

Eversource provides community wide energy usage information for planning and evaluation purposes through the state’s energy data dashboard. Eversource publishes energy consumption aggregated to the municipal level to a publicly available dashboard in Massachusetts and the data is updated annually. 

The City of Springfield does not advocate for better access to utility data for ratepayers or the establishment of data-sharing agreements between the city and its utilities. 

Last Updated: September 2023  

Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All

Utility Climate Mitigation Goal  

In 2019, Eversource Energy set a company-wide goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. To achieve this goal, Eversource Energy will need to reduce emissions by 9.09% annually from 2019 levels. 

City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid 

In 2019, the Town of West Springfield, part of the Springfield metropolitan statistical area, launched the West Springfield Community Choice Power Supply Program, which is an opt-out program that provides clean energy to the local community. NextEra Energy Services was selected as the supplier of the Program.  

Clean Distributed Energy Resources 

The City of Springfield supported the creation of a community solar project by serving as an anchor subscriber to the project. The system will provide direct utility bill reductions to low-income households. 

Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement 

We were unable to find information regarding onsite or offsite municipal renewable energy systems in Springfield. 

City Renewable Energy Incentive and Financing Programs 

We could not find information on whether the city incentivizes the deployment of renewable energy systems. 

Last Updated: September 2023 

Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All

Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals 

The energy and water utilities do not currently offer joint energy and water efficiency programs, but Columbia Gas of Massachusetts does offer water efficiency measures in its energy efficiency programs. In 2018, water efficiency measures saved 33,227,757 annual gallons. The City of Springfield has not yet established a water savings target or goal but does offer water saving tips online. 

Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation 

The water utility has not set specific energy efficiency targets or strategies. The city’s water system does not self-generate its own energy. 

Last Updated: September 2023

Local Government Score:
0 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All

Climate Change Mitigation Goal

We could not find any information regarding a municipal climate change mitigation or greenhouse gas reduction goal for Springfield. 

Energy Reduction Goal

We could not find any information regarding a local energy reduction goal for Springfield. 

Renewable Energy Goal

We could not find any information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal for Springfield. 

Last updated: November 2023

Procurement and Construction Policies List All

Fleet policies and composition 

We were unable to find information on Springfield’s fleet procurement policies or fuel efficiency requirements. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition. 

Public lighting

We were unable to find information regarding the adoption of a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. In 2023, Springfield launched a project to convert all 14,000 streetlights to LED. This is expected to be a five-year project. As of April 2023, 450 streetlights have been converted, accounting for 3% of the total streetlights in Springfield.  

Inclusive procurement

We were unable to verify if Springfield has inclusive procurement and contracting processes. 

Last updated: October 2023

Asset Management List All

Building Benchmarking

We were unable to find information regarding Springfield’s benchmarking practices.

Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy

We were unable to find information regarding a comprehensive retrofit strategy in Springfield. However, the City has funding for municipal retrofits through a capital campaign.

Municipal Employee Transportation Benefits

Springfield does not provide reduced-emission transportation benefits to municipal staff.

Last update: February 2024