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IN THIS ISSUE

Electricity discount for heat pumps
City Council gets educated on the Specialized Code
At last! City expands curbside composting
Coming in October: Candidates Climate Forum
Framingham residents make progress on climate goals
Briefs: EV charging survey; ‘walk audits’ in Framingham heat areas; 
making trails accessible to all
Upcoming events | In the news

Big break for heat pumps!

If you have a heat pump or are thinking of getting one, know this: Massachusetts has a new reduced electricity rate for heat pump owners. If you have a heat pump installed through Mass Save, you are automatically enrolled; if you did not use a Mass Save rebate, contact Eversource by November 1 to enroll in this winter discount program. 

The state Department of Public Utilities projects an average $540 savings on electric bills over the course of the winter. Separately, a report from a consortium of environmental groups projects median savings of $687 per heating season, with substantial winter savings for 82 percent of Massachusetts households with heat pumps.

City Council gets educated on the Specialized Code

If you’ve been following this newsletter, you know we’ve been urging the city to pass the Specialized Building Code since 2023. Why? This optional state code addresses the climate emergency by minimizing greenhouse gas emissions in new buildings. If passed, it would save money for residents of these new buildings and improve home values — while also making Framingham eligible for $1 million in state funding for solar or other clean energy projects as a designated Climate Leader.

For two years, the City Council took no action on the Specialized Code. But it is thankfully back on the table. 

On August 19, the full City Council heard a 20-minute educational presentation about the code from the Mass. Department of Energy Resources (DOER). (Jump to 2:32:38 in this recording.)  Erin Ellsworth, chair of the Framingham Sustainability Committee, presented a letter in support of adopting the code. 

The DOER’s Dillan Patel explained that pre-wiring new buildings to be all-electric, even if they are built with fossil fuels, would protect future residents from rising fossil fuel costs. He also shared state and federal incentives available to builders.

After a short discussion (2:49:44), City Council Chair Philip Ottaviani said he would set up a public hearing on the Specialized Code. The date is TBD — while Steiner suggested mid-September, Ottaviani suggested October, saying he wanted to circulate the DOER’s presentation to Framingham’s building department. He added that the Economic Development Subcommittee, led by Councilor Michael Cannon, may want its own presentation. (Of note, the city has already held a forum for builders in November 2024 (slides | meeting video).

In the past, we’ve heard concerns that the Specialized Code will deter developers from building in Framingham. But among the communities that have adopted the Specialized Code — including five of our seven neighbors — this is proving not to be true:

• There is no evidence for much more expensive buildings: The added construction costs range from 1 to 4 percent and are falling quickly as builders gain more experience with the code. Generous Mass Save incentives offset the majority of any cost increases.

• The code does not drive away development: The example of Lexington MA proves this. Lexington has adopted the Specialized Code (and in fact goes further by banning gas outright — an idea that is not on the table in Framingham), yet is seeing a surge in housing development. Over the past two years, Lexington permitted 1,100 new housing units — 160 of which will be affordable.

What can I do?

Framingham is on the verge of a building boom, having become a hot market for mixed-use development proposals. So it’s urgent that we speak up now. The climate emergency is not going away, and we don’t want to make it worse.

• Write your City Councilor and ask them to pass the code as soon as possible.

• Sign our petition.

• Read our factsheet on the Specialized Code.

• Stay tuned for updates on the public hearing. We’d love to have several people give comments, but your presence itself is also important.

At last! City expands curbside composting

The City of Framingham has officially announced the start of its new curbside composting pilot and is inviting residents to register with Black Earth Compost, the designated vendor. Kudos to the city’s Composting Task Force members for their perseverance in making this happen. 

If you haven’t signed up yet for curbside composting, give it a look! It’s easy and convenient. Once registered, you can pick up a free 13-gallon bin for collecting food scraps (value about $50 based on a quick internet search) at the city Recycling Center. The city has purchased about 900 of these bins. You’ll also receive one free roll of liner bags while supplies last. Plus, each spring you’ll get a voucher for a free bag of compost.

As for Black Earth’s pickup rates, they vary by the frequency of collection and the billing arrangement:

• Weekly collection - $80.99 every 6 months

• Weekly collection - $14.99 per month

• Every other week collection - $63.99 every 6 months

• Every other week collection - $11.99 per month

P.S. You can get $5 off from Black Earth if you use this link.

Once Framingham reaches 900 subscribers, pickup costs will go down substantially for everyone. We’re now at more than 450 subscribers; according to the Composting Task Force, about 40 residents have already signed up in the first two weeks of the program.

About 40 percent of residential trash, on average, is compostable. In Framingham, we currently send around 45,000 pounds in food scraps per week to the landfill – where they contribute to emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting does the opposite: compost applied to your garden helps remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it in the soil.

There’s more information on the city’s website and from Black Earth Compost. 

Coming in October: Candidates Climate Forum

Now that candidates for Mayor and City Council have filed their papers, Energize Framingham has begun planning our biennial Candidates Climate Forum. It will be in October, exact date to be determined. Stay tuned for details!

We will invite all City Councilors, even those whose terms are not yet up (at-large councilors George King and Janet Leombruno) or are running unopposed (Noval Alexander (District 5), Tracey Bryant (District 9), Christine Long (District 1), Leora Mallach (District 7), and Phil Ottaviani (District 6), as well as Mayor Charlie Sisitsky and his challenger, former School Committee member Geoffrey Epstein.

There are four contested City Council races:

• In District 2, Brandon Ward will be challenged by Carol Spack.

• In District 3, Mary Kate Feeney and Kenneth Weiss are each vying for the seat of Adam Steiner, who chose not to run for a fifth term.

• In District 4, Michael Cannon will be challenged by Steven Belcher.

• In District 8, Leslie White Harvey will be challenged by John Stefanini, who she defeated two years ago.

Have a climate- or sustainability-related question for the candidates? Send them to [email protected]. 

Data dive: Framingham residents make progress on climate goals

Massachusetts ranks 50th in the country for per-person greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report from Environment America last November. Between 2005 and 2022, the state reduced its per-person emissions by 37 percent, as compared to a 15 percent nationwide drop. 

Unfortunately, Framingham’s greenhouse gas emissions were virtually unchanged between 2020 and 2023, the most recent year for which data are available – a decrease of just under 1 percent. By comparison, Natick saw a decrease of nearly 8.5 percent. (You can use this tool to compare municipalities.) 

But in the good news department:

• As of January 2025, there were 1,991 solar projects in Framingham, almost all of them residential, according to the MassCEC Production Tracking System. 

• According to data from the Massachusetts Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool, Framingham had 1,246 heat pumps as of the end of 2023. 

• Framingham’s number of fully electric vehicles rose from 171 in 2020 to 1,105 as of July 1, 2025 – more than a 500 percent increase – according to data from the Massachusetts Vehicle Census. Plug-in hybrid numbers rose from 156 to 605 during the same period, an increase of nearly 300 percent.

BRIEFS

See more details about this city program in our June/July newsletter and take their survey here.

‘Walk audits’ to flag heat risks in South Framingham

The organization WalkMassachusetts, in partnership with the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, is leading two ‘walk audits’ in Framingham along Waverly and Beaver Streets to help understand how heat impacts these neighborhoods. 

You can take part! Feedback from walkers will help the city identify heat and safety risks and potential pilot interventions. Learn more about the project and RSVP here if you’d like to join a walk.

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 3 p.m.
Starting location - Cedar Street/Waverly, near the Framingham MBTA station
Route will include Waverly Street (2nd Street/Natick line to Cedar Street). This will be 2.25 miles if structured as an out and back route.

Wed., Aug. 27, 9 a.m.
Starting location: Seabra Foods/Autozone parking lot.
Route will include Beaver Street (129 Kendall Ave/Sherborn line to Waverly Street). This will be 2 miles if structured as an out and back route.

Making trails accessible to all

It’s time to pass the Trails For All Act, a state bill ensuring that people of all abilities can access nature, argues Ron Chick of Friends of Framingham Trails in a recent editorial in the Ham’er. 

In November 2024, the Healey/Driscoll administration launched a Trails for All initiative. The Trails For All Act (S.548/H.915), also supported by the Framingham Disability Commission, would make the state’s trail working and advisory groups permanent and provide funding to enable older adults, people with disabilities, and those with small children to enjoy unpaved nature trails.

Chick says that Framingham’s Carol Getchell Trail will be a model for accessible outdoor recreation once updates are complete. Framingham was awarded $100,000 from the state last year to build a 1,000-foot-long ADA-accessible boardwalk and an ADA-accessible riverside viewing platform.

The bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Learn how you can advocate for its passage.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Stay updated about events by visiting www.energizeframingham.org/events and sign up for email notifications by creating a profile (“Sign In/Join” button on the top right corner on the page).

Thursdays through Oct. 9, 3-7 p.m. Framingham Farmers Market 
Framingham Centre Common
Enjoy fresh produce, local goods, live music, and more. Free rides with MWRTA.

Sat. Aug. 23, 9 a.m.-12:45 p.m. 14th Annual Framingham Vegetable Gardens Tour
Free event sponsored by Transition Framingham. Meet at 18 Gryzboska Circle to carpool (please park on odd-numbered side of road). Tour five home and community gardens in west and south Framingham. Carpools will return to Gryzboska Circle by 12:45 p.m.

Advance sign-up encouraged. Suggested $10 donation, not required, to support Transition Framingham and the Framingham Community Gardens Working Group’s work to advance opportunities to grow food in Framingham.

Thurs., Sep. 4, 7 p.m. Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America 
On Zoom. Join the Framingham Public Library’s Lifelong Learning mailing list for the link at bit.ly/Lifelong-Learning-Lectures.

Sun. Sep. 7, 2-6 p.m. Framingham Business Trade Show
Downtown Common (2 Park St)
More than just a business show, this is a community event with a food court, kid zone, and an Educational & Cultural Hub. Presented by Downtown Framingham Inc. Energize Framingham will have a table, stop by and say hello!

Tues. Sep. 10, 7 p.m. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting (hybrid)
At the Parks & Recreation Office (475 Union Ave) or on Zoom.
This meeting will share designs for new community garden sites at Bates Road Park and Roosevelt Park. The design study was funded through the Community Preservation Act.

Wed. Sep. 17 - Wed. Sep. 24:  KFB Trash Bash 325
In honor of the 325th anniversary of Framingham, Keep Framingham Beautiful aims to get 325+ folks in Framingham picking up litter  — ANY amount counts! Sign up

Sat. Sep. 20, 10-11:30 a.m. Cool your neighborhood — plant a tree
Greater Framingham Community Church, basement space
44 Franklin St, Framingham
Want to see Framingham’s hot areas get cooler? Join us to hear more about our partnership with the Framingham Public Schools and the Tree Warden to plant trees at several schools and in heat zones around the city. All are welcome  — we need your help! More on the trees group.

Sun. Sep. 21:  Sun Day 
Sun Day – falling on the autumn solar equinox – is a day of action celebrating solar and wind power and the movement to leave fossil fuels behind. Events are planned all over the country to showcase solar installations, electric homes, and vehicles running on clean power. Nearby event locations include Boston, Concord and Bedford.

Sat. Sep. 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Find Your People Fair
Nevins Hall, Memorial Building (City Hall)
150 Concord Avenue, Framingham
Connect with local groups that align with your interests and passions. Organizations interested in participating can apply here. Energize Framingham will have a table, stop by and say hello!

Thurs., Oct. 9, 7 p.m. Extreme Weather Events Increase Efforts to Protect Lives and Property
On Zoom. Join the Framingham Public Library’s Lifelong Learning mailing list for the link at bit.ly/Lifelong-Learning-Lectures.

IN THE NEWS

Framingham/Metrowest

'Cleaner and greener.' Framingham launches curbside composting pilot program (Metrowest Daily News)
The City of Framingham is launching a curbside composting pilot program in partnership with Black Earth Compost, which collects food scraps from residents, schools, supermarkets, and more. (See story above)

Bacteria pollution threatens Massachusetts beaches. This map shows where pollution is worst. (Boston Globe)
The number of beaches across the state that have failed bacterial tests has been on the rise in recent years, an analysis of newly released state data shows. According to the article’s interactive map, between 2020 and 2024, Framingham’s Learned Pond failed 28 percent of all bacterial tests, Waushakum Beach failed 35 percent, Saxonville Beach failed 9 percent, and Cochuitate State Park Beach failed 6 percent. 

How Newton, Massachusetts Got National Grid to Bend on Electrification (Heatmap)
It took a lot of scrutiny and a lot of patience, but the city council is finally making progress against natural gas infrastructure.

​​How downtown Natick MA has become a focal point for redevelopment (Metrowest Daily News)
The redevelopment of the downtown MBTA commuter rail station and the presence of large companies like MathWorks are contributing factors.

Massachusetts/Region

Heat pump owners to get a break on electric rates to lower winter costs (Boston Globe)
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities has approved reduced winter electric rates for heat pump owners. The new rate would shave an average of about $540 off electric bills over the course of the winter. More in this press release, on WBUR, and in our story above.

This Massachusetts town banned gas — and housing boomed anyway (Canary Media)
Critics say stringent, pro-electrification building codes and restrictions on natural gas will impede housing developers. Lexington,MA is proving them wrong.

Heat waves and poor air quality are here to stay. Here’s how Boston is adapting. (Boston Globe) 

A heat wave hit New England’s grid. Clean energy saved the day. (Canary Media)
As temperatures across New England soared above 100 in recent weeks, solar panels and batteries helped keep air conditioners running while reducing fossil-fuel generation and likely saving consumers more than $20 million.

Massachusetts braces for clean energy layoffs amid Trump’s cuts (Boston Globe)
Through the “Big Beautiful Bill,” Massachusetts could lose an estimated 30,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in wages over the next decade as the federal government rolls back incentives that support wind, solar, and other clean energy technologies.

Planting guide: How to keep up with the evolving climate (Boston Globe)
What’s in, what’s out as our climate warms: A guide to four climate-resilient gardens.

Water lessons from Leominster lead to stormwater action in Attleboro (Metrowest Daily News)
Attleboro is piloting a pocket forest project (a Miyawaki forest) to improve water retention and reduce runoff during storms. 

How flood-ravaged Boston took on the climate deniers – and won (The Guardian)
Boston’s climate resilience plan consists of more than 100 projects along its 47-mile coastline between now and 2070, including elevated public parks and promenades and nature-based defenses. The Trump administration’s cuts have so far derailed Boston’s plans less than feared.

'It's about choices': Debate in Massachusetts over PFAS in artificial turf fields (Worcester Telegram)
A state senator in Millbury, MA sponsored a bill that would prohibit the use of public funds, both state and local, for the purchase and installation of synthetic turf fields that contain PFAS (a “forever chemical”).  

New York becomes first state to commit to all-electric new buildings (Canary Media)
The state finalized rules ensuring most new buildings will install electric heat pumps and stoves rather than gas appliances beginning December 31. Larger buildings and certain buildings such as laboratories will be built all-electric starting in 2029. (Ed. note: In Massachusetts, the opt-in Specialized Building Code still provides an avenue for new buildings to use fossil fuels, but buildings would need to be prewired for electrification.)

National/General Interest

Do you want federal money for an EV or home solar? Time is running out — fast (NPR) 
Home solar tax credits end December 31.

After a freeze, Trump administration reluctantly agrees to fund EV chargers (NPR)
The administration is reopening a federal program to fund the installation of high-speed EV chargers along highways nationwide, after a six-month freeze in funds and a legal battle with states. 

Booming solar, wind, and other green energy hits tipping point for even lower costs (Boston Globe) 
According to two new U.N. reports, 92.5 percent of all new electricity capacity added to the grid worldwide last year came from renewable sources, while sales of electric vehicles increased from 500,000 in 2015 to more than 17 million in 2024.

4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment (New Yorker) 
“In the past two years, however, with surprisingly little notice, renewable energy has suddenly become the obvious, mainstream, cost-efficient choice around the world,” Bill McKibben writes.

Solar panels that fit on your balcony or deck are gaining traction in the US (ABC News)
Solar systems that plug into regular wall outlets have been popular in Europe for years and are gaining traction in the U.S. for their affordability and simple installation. 

As rooftop solar gets hammered, virtual power plants offer a way forward (Canary Media)
Home solar and battery systems could bolster the overtaxed power grid and lower energy costs for consumers.

EPA plans to end a program that makes solar power available to low-income Americans (NPR)
The Trump Administration says it will end the "Solar for All" program, which had aimed to help more than 900,000 low-income households reduce pollution, and utility bills. 

Wall Street Sees Decline in Dealmaking for Oil and Gas Clients (Bloomberg News)
Financing provided to oil, gas and coal projects by Wall Street’s top six banks fell 25 percent.

Trump's EPA now says greenhouse gases don't endanger people (NPR)
The EPA has crafted a proposal that would undo the government's "endangerment finding," a determination that pollutants from burning fossil fuels, such as carbon dioxide and methane, can be regulated under the Clean Air Act. More coverage in the Associated Press.

How nonprofits and academia are stepping up to salvage US climate programs (MIT Technology Review)
A growing number of nonprofit and academic groups have spun up or shifted focus to keep essential climate monitoring and research efforts going amid the Trump administration’s assault on environmental funding, staffing, and regulations.

ABOUT US

Energize Framingham provides climate education, outreach, and advocacy to promote a healthy, equitable, and resilient community.

Have a tip for us? Email [email protected].
In case you missed it… Back issues!
Editors: Nancy Fliesler and Aimee Powelka