Welcome to the Cumberland Climate Action Team!
CCAT formed up in response to the Grassroots Climate Action summit in Augusta last December.
Our vision is to facilitate a reduction of 50% in greenhouse gases by the Cumberland community by 2030.
For 2016 we have established three goals:
1. Create a baseline estimate of Cumberland’s greenhouse gas emissions for 2015.
2. Build a CCAT website.
3. Partner with MSAD51 to build a climate action plan for the district and initiate one or more climate initiatives in the FY2017 budget.
We have been very pleased with our progress to date. First, using the UNH campus carbon calculator (the higher ed gold standard), we estimate the carbon footprint of Cumberland 68,000 metric tons CO2e. Over 90% of those emissions arise from the 2700 individual households in the community mostly from heating fuel and gasoline for car travel. For this estimate, we received technical help from the Greater Portland Council of Governments and Colby College. Second, we now have an operational and expanding CCAT web site. Lastly, MSAD51 has been very receptive to working with us. A major piece of their strategic plan is environmental stewardship. Also, they are mindful of their sizeable carbon footprint, which we estimate at 4,300 metric tons C2Oe in 2015 – the equivalent of 200 households. They have already taken action by converting over to natural gas for heating and implementing an efficiency program through Siemens. For FY2017, they are budgeting 1) sufficient REC’s to make all their electricity use carbon free and also 2) three level II charging stations to support use of electric vehicles. The second largest component of their carbon footprint (behind heating) is the daily commute of 400 staff and 200 high school students. Our CCAT has agreed to fund raise half the cost of the charging stations. Also, under Superintendent Jeff Porter’s able leadership, they are weaving climate change understanding into both the curriculum and student activities.
Added June 2016:
MSAD51 has recently begun planning for a Performing Arts Center and a bond referendum in November 2016. As this project could result in big increase in the carbon footprint of the campus, we are working with the Building Committee to consider designs that are carbon neutral.
Town Government has a much smaller carbon footprint consisting primarily of the fuel expended by the Police and Public Works Departments. As more fuel efficient vehicles become available, they are worked into the vehicle fleet. One major asset of the Town is close to 1000 acres of Town Forest in several locations. As the Town is committed to managing this forest sustainably, it has a natural offset to its carbon emissions. We are working with a licensed forester to quantify this offset. Lastly, the Town was moving forward to consider a solar farm on its 5 acre capped landfill; this is now on hold due to the recent LePage veto.
Our ongoing challenge will be to find ways to motivate our 2700 private households to reduce their carbon footprint. Anecdotally, there seems to be a general apathy to taking action by the general public. One first step we are taking is to offer a brief course on this subject in the Fall 2016 Adult Education program. It will teach individuals how to calculate their own carbon footprint and to develop a plan to cut it by 80% - in line with the Paris Accords. This turns out to be simpler and cheaper than most believe, thanks to emerging technologies such as air source heat pumps and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
For more information, please contact Denny Gallaudet at denny.gallaudet@gmail.com.