CLIMATE LEADERSHIP NEWSLETTER
NOTES FROM MASSACHUSETTS CITIES AND TOWNS
Dear Aileen,
The purpose of the Climate Leadership newsletter is to features stories of environmental and climate action in Massachusetts. It provides a platform to highlight work being done by cities, climate leaders, and local groups in communities across the Commonwealth. To share local climate actions your community is working on, email Veena Dharmaraj at veena.dharmaraj@sierraclub.org.
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Two Central Massachusetts Communities Successfully Roll Out HeatSmart Pilot Program
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Bolton and Harvard successfully teamed up to participate in the inaugural HeatSmart pilot program to increase the adoption of two clean energy technologies, air source heat pumps (ASHP) and ground source heat pumps (GSHP). Heat pumps accomplish space heating and cooling without combustion by efficiently transferring heat from/to the outside air or ground.
 The program resulted in 47 HeatSmart installations in Bolton and Harvard—35 ASHP and 12 GSHP with several more in the pipeline—saving homeowners money on fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To encourage participation and educate homeowners, “meet the installer” events were held in each town, followed by an outreach campaign including general and targeted mailings, signs, banners, ads, internet postings, events, consultations with coaches, and a contract Q & A meeting.
Prior to participating in the 2018 HeatSmart program, Bolton and Harvard separately participated in Solarize Mass, another program offered by Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). Through these programs both towns have led the way in increasing clean energy adoption for their residents. To learn more about the programs in these towns, click here or reach out to Tony Jagodnik, Bolton HeatSmart Coach at boltoncoach@boltonharvardheatsmart.org and Eric Broadbent, Harvard HeatSmart Coach at ebroadbent@mac.com.
MassCEC offers many programs for communities looking to incorporate clean energy into their energy portfolio. Click here for more information or sign up for MassCEC email updates.
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Local Officials Explore Opportunities to Advance Clean Energy Policies
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On September 29, 2018, State Senator Michael Moore opened the Sierra Club Climate Summit in Worcester to educate and empower municipal and public officials to advocate and take climate action in their communities. The session presented by Emily Norton, Executive Director, Charles River Watershed Association covered climate change and its impacts, the energy landscape in Massachusetts and ways by which community leaders could advance clean energy and sustainability goals. Public officials from Auburn, Bolton, Charlton, Framingham, Uxbridge, Westborough, Webster and Worcester participated in the session.
 Even as the federal government is choosing to retreat from climate change, the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report directing policymakers to aim for keeping global temperature rise below 1.5C brings more urgency to the situation. Interested in attending the next climate summit in January 2019? Email Jacob Stern.
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Cohasset Considering Resolution Aiming for 100 Percent Renewable Energy
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Cohasset residents and members of the town’s Alternative Energy Committee (ACE) are considering drafting a citizen’s petition to be placed at the Annual Town Meeting warrant next spring to pass a resolution aiming for 100 percent renewable energy. Amherst, Cambridge, Concord, Framingham, Greenfield, Hingham, Northampton, Leverett, Lowell, Salem, and Wendell have already committed to 100 percent renewables through a resolution or a warrant article. The Mass Power Forward 100 RE Toolkit can help you figure out what your town has done, and think about next steps. To learn more about Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign click here.
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Holyoke Gets Largest Utility-Scale Energy Storage System
Engie and Holyoke Gas and Electric have built the state’s largest utility-scale energy storage installation at the Mt. Tom Solar Farm in Holyoke. The three-megawatt system, which will be fully integrated into the largest community solar farm in the state will reduce peak load burden on existing electrical distribution system, allow for the increased use of clean energy and provide grid stability by responding quickly to electricity demand fluctuations.
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| Waltham Installs Electric Car Charging Stations |
The City of Waltham installed four electric car charging stations at two different parking lots in the city. While users will not have to pay for electricity, existing parking meter rates at charging stations will apply. The city plans to install five more stations in municipal parking lots.
Cities and towns can make use of $5 million available in first year funding through the Volkswagen Settlement to install electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) in their communities. An additional $45 million is available through the Eversource Make Ready Program to install publicly available charging infrastructure. Contact James Cater (James.Cater@eversource.com) for more information.
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Four Municipalities to Test Innovative Technologies in Wastewater Treatment
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) awarded $402,000 in grants to four municipalities—Amherst, Fairhaven, Pittsfield, and Westfield—and technology providers to support innovative technological advancements in wastewater treatment. These pilots will be used to demonstrate technologies that increase energy efficiency, recover resources, and remediate nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous. |
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Commonwealth Launches ‘Think Blue Massachusetts’ Stormwater Pollution Awareness Campaign
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 The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), in partnership with the Statewide Stormwater Coalition, launched a new stormwater awareness campaign, ‘Think Blue Massachusetts’, to help Massachusetts cities and towns comply with new federal stormwater management requirements.
The campaign is designed to generate awareness of the effects of stormwater pollution on waterways and encourage businesses and residents to do their part to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff. This campaign will help 260 communities in Massachusetts meet new federal requirements for stormwater management. The new Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requires cities and towns to implement a host of stormwater pollution prevention efforts, including public educational activities and outreach. Click here for the campaign toolkit.
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OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTION
Add Your Name to MassPIRG's Electric Bus Statement of Support
MassPIRG is asking local officials to join them in calling for more electric buses in Massachusetts to ensure that all Bay Staters have access to sustainable, safe, and clean transportation. If you are a mayor, city councilor, or school district official, please add your name to MassPIRG's Electric Bus Statement of Support
MassPIRG will release the statement at the end of October along with a report on funding options available to cities and school districts for making the switch to electric buses. For more information contact Brendan Mahoney at bmahoney@pirg.org
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Boston Community Choice Energy Progress Party
The Boston Climate Action Network (BCAN) is throwing a party on November 13, 2018; 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Democracy Brewing to celebrate the progress in rolling out Community Choice Energy (CCE) in Boston. Join fellow green justice and climate activist coalition groups to socialize and talk a little about what’s next in the CCE process. Click here to register. For more information reach out to Andy Wells-Bean at andy@bostoncan.org.
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