WEST BROOKFIELD, Mass. - Several towns in central and western Massachusetts are receiving money from the state to fund local clean energy projects.

Gov. Maura Healey said the grants will help make Massachusetts a greener place to live and do business, and reducing energy is good for municipal budgets and good for the climate.

Auburn, Dudley, Rutland and West Brookfield are some of the towns included. West Brookfield Town Administrator Ron San Angelo said they are getting more than $180,000 to improve energy efficiency in town buildings, and by doing so, they're protecting the environment for the future.

"We are going to make weatherization improvements to the senior center, to the library, to town hall,” he said. “We are going to put in all brand new LED lighting in the elementary school. So that's a huge project but the return, it is really a return on investment.

“The state helps us fund this and then the town, over the long-term, has a lower cost of energy because we are using all the new fancy lighting that improves energy so much.”

San Angelo said those projects should start this year.

Healey said the push to go green from towns like West Brookfield will help Massachusetts reach its climate goals.