Discussion on New Climate Leaders Program: October 1 & 2

Virtual through ZOOM

The Pelham Energy Committee will be holding two zoom meetings, one at 7:30pm on Tuesday, October 1 and the other at 7:30 on Wednesday, October 2.

The warrant for the upcoming special town meeting will include four articles (Articles 6-9) that, if passed, would open opportunities for larger state grants that would help the town reduce municipal climate emissions to zero by 2050.

Moving from a Green Community to a Climate Leader Community

1. Currently the town is part of the Green Communities program which provides funding for municipal energy efficiency initiatives. To be eligible, the town had to commit to reducing energy consumption by a certain amount each year.
2. There is now a new program, the Climate Leader Community program with a higher bar to entry but which also which would open up opportunities for larger state grants to help achieve those more ambitious goals. To be eligible, the town government needs to commit to four additional criteria.
3. These new criteria include:
   1. A commitment to reduce municipal emissions to zero by 2050 – this commitment is in warrant article 6.
   2. Adoption of a Specialized Building Code which is very close to our current building code – warrant article 7
   3. Adoption of a “Zero Emissions First Vehicle Policy.” This is meant to accelerate the adoption of lower-emission vehicle. This would commit us to buy available electric or hybrid vehicles but only if 1) they would perform adequately for their intended purpose, 2) there exist multiple options of such vehicles on the market. – warrant article 8
   4. Creation and adoption of a Decarbonization Roadmap for municipal operations. This would include, for example, a plan with target dates for replacing fossil fuel vehicles and heating systems, so that the municipal operations would be zero by 2050 – warrant article 9

The Zoom links for the meeting are:

October 1, 7:30pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89901931051?pwd=7bM6SbwdvpKM9W0i6wb2iw3f1RiYBJ.1

On Tuesday, a program administrator from DOER will provide information on the Climate Leader program and answer questions.

October 2, 7:30pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82352486990?pwd=FR3tMQFYX2ceGNGmoZegI6Qbka6goY.1

On Wednesday, both a program administrator from DOER and a building code specialist will provide information and answer questions.

Members of the town Energy Committee will also be available at each meeting to answer questions.

I hope we will see you all there and please share this with members of your committee and with your neighbors and friends.