BOSTON (AP) — State officials say that last year 24 additional cities and towns completed energy efficiency and clean energy projects under the Green Communities Act.

The projects ranged from lighting upgrades at municipal buildings to installing solar panels. Gov. Deval Patrick says the projects are expected to save a combined $1.2 million annually. He says that money can now fund other local priorities, such as schools.

The information was released Friday as part of the annual performance report for the Green Communities Act. The towns that completed the projects were from all over the state, from Greenfield to Mashpee.

Since the Green Communities program started in 2009, 86 state communities, representing about 42 percent of the state's population, have committed to cutting municipal energy consumption by 20 percent.