June 2024

Solar studies, Chief Climate Officer may be in offing

June 03, 2024

june2024

Your latest local news on sustainability and climate change action
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IN THIS ISSUE

Solar project returns to budget?
Charter review: Support long-range climate planning!
Briefs: Municipal composting, Specialized Code, de-paving around Beaver Dam Brook, geothermal network coming online, new trees in Framingham
Upcoming events | In the news

VOLUNTEER HELP WANTED
Represent Energize Framingham at the Farmer’s Market
Thursdays starting July 11, 2:30-7:30 p.m.
We will provide all the materials and tell you all you need to know. You just need a smile and a willingness to chat with the public. Help for even a portion of the time is welcome!
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Farley solar design, citywide solar feasibility study may be in offing

Our petition to reinstate the Farley solar project, a citywide solar feasibility study, and a Vehicle Electrification Initiative ultimately got more than 450 signatures. (L-R Aimee Powelka, Nanette Magnani)

Our work — and your support — paid off (at least partially). Energize Framingham's presentation to the Mayor and City Council May 7 was well received. Kudos to Aimee Powelka and Larry Stoodt for an excellent and persuasive presentation, which called for restoring three items to the FY25 Capital Budget:

  • Solar panels for the Farley building

  • A citywide solar feasibility study

  • A Vehicle Electrification Initiative

Mayor Sisitsky said he and his administration were rethinking his original decision about the Farley solar project, acknowledging that he didn’t initially have all the facts. He said he was now on board — though just for the design part of the project for the FY25 budget. 

Sisitsky also said he would allocate funds for the citywide solar feasibility study. (This was unclear, but he seemed to indicate this would come from existing funds.) Several City Councilors — Phil Ottaviani, Adam Steiner, Tracey Bryant, Leslie White-Harvey, and Michael Cannon — praised our presentation. Most seemed to favor keeping at least some of the items in the budget.

The Mayor and councilors were especially impressed by the Direct Pay provision of the Inflation Reduction Act, which enables municipalities to receive a 30 percent refund on the total cost of a solar installation. In fact, Framingham could possibly receive 40 percent back, since it is likely to qualify for the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program. This would reduce the project’s estimated payback time (4.8 years) even further.

City Council to vote

On May 21, the Mayor presented a revised budget to the City Council that included the transfer of $500,000 for the Farley solar project from an $8 million bond the City Council authorized last year for a Joint Dispatch Center. While this exceeds the estimated design cost of $150,000, it is less than the $1.75 million requested for the project as a whole. 

The City Council referred the matter to the Finance Subcommittee, which took it up on May 28. The Mayor stated that the Farley solar design study would be suitable for bidding purposes and will consider additional factors like a potential roof replacement and geothermal hookup in the future. 

Councilor Steiner asked whether next year’s budget request would include funding for the solar panels themselves. The Mayor said yes, with the caveat that “we don’t know how much it will be,” suggesting that the building might need to be made fully accessible to people with disabilities. If the project costs exceed 30 percent of the building’s value, that would trigger the accessibility requirement, the Mayor said.

In any event, the Subcommittee voted to approve transferring $500,000 for the Farley design study (as well as $1.5 million for the purchase of 196-200 Concord Street) and it is back on the City Council’s agenda for June 4. Watch our Facebook page for updates!

What about the 5-year plan?

In March, the Mayor deferred the existing five-year FY25-FY29 Capital Improvement Plan, stating that a revised plan will be submitted to the City Council in November 2024. This could provide an opportunity for us to work with the Mayor to ensure that solar is incorporated when feasible in city building plans, including new roofs and parking lots, and that vehicle electrification be included in the plans.  We'll keep you posted as we learn more.

Charter Review: Support long-range climate planning!

On May 23, the Charter Review Committee held a public hearing on the proposed changes to the City Charter, based on feedback received since the review process began in late 2023. Among the changes were these revisions based on input from Energize Framingham:

  • Adding a new position called “Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer”

  • Expanding language in the master plan to include climate and community equity

EF community lead Aimee Powelka spoke to the importance of these changes. 

Per the current charter, the Council must put the Charter Review Committee's recommendations on its agenda for action before June 15.  As a first step, Aimee will discuss the Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer position at the June 3 meeting of the Subcommittee on Environment and Sustainability, at the invitation of Councilor Adam Steiner.

If you agree that Framingham needs long-range climate planning and climate leadership across city departments, please let your city councilor know! (Identify your councilor with this tool.)

A few things you can mention:

  • Currently climate action is piecemeal in Framingham. Rather than approving a single solar installation on a school or purchasing electric vehicles here and there, we need to address climate in a long-term, holistic way across all departments — from purchasing to transportation to new buildings. 

  • We cannot wait: The next decade is critical for curbing greenhouse gas emissions and managing the climate impacts that are already being felt. 

  • Unprecedented state and federal funding opportunities are available now for clean energy, climate resilience, and climate justice. We need someone to work across all city departments to access these grants.

BRIEFS

Municipal composting takes a step forward

At the Composting Task Force meeting on May 22, the Department of Public Works agreed to allocate $17,450 from the Recycling Dividends Program, a state grant, to support the growth of composting in Framingham. The funds will be used to purchase bins and starter kits for new private subscriptions to a curbside food waste pickup program, with a goal of reaching 1,000 households. The city will first need to go through a Preferred Vendor bidding process.

Funds will also be used to spur new composting opportunities, including support for a second cafeteria composting program at an elementary school. Dunning Elementary is just completing its first year as a pilot for this program. More to come!

Specialized Code: Still on the Agenda!

Wikimedia Commons

Once budget season is over, Energize Framingham’s next priority will be getting the city to adopt the Opt-in Specialized energy code. At this writing, 44 communities have now adopted the code. The Framingham Sustainability Committee is planning a builders’ forum specifically about the Specialized Code. Read our article about the Specialized Code and stay tuned for updates.

De-paving around Beaver Dam Brook

Last December, the Framingham Salvage Company agreed to pay $85,000 to settle a complaint that it illegally discharged industrial stormwater into Beaver Dam Brook. Under this settlement, $60,000 will go to a program called Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW) that is planning a de-paving project in Framingham.

De-paving removes sections of hard paving and replaces it with a water-permeable surface such as soil or gravel. This enables better drainage, reduces runoff, and helps cool the area, reducing the “heat island” effect. It will also improve water quality in the Beaver Dam Brook watershed. CREW will present about de-paving at the Framingham Sustainability Committee meeting on June 12 (details under Events).

Geothermal network coming into service

At a ceremony June 4, Eversource will officially “turn on” Framingham’s geothermal loop. Eversource continues to work on retrofits to connect homes and buildings to the loop, according to Sustainability Coordinator Shawn Luz.

New trees grow in Framingham

The Department of Public Works and Conservation Commission have planted the long-awaited 28 trees on Grant Street. They include red maples, American basswoods (linden), and American elm. Separately, Eversource partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to distribute 161 free trees to Framingham residents.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wed., June 5, 7 p.m. Heat Pumps for Cooling and Heating (online)
Sponsored by plugIN Metrowest
Steve Breit of the Heat Smart Alliance and master heat pump coach will provide an overview, neighbors will share their experiences with heat pumps, and community coaches will discuss how they can help you take the next step.

Sat., June 8, 1-4 p.m. Acton Climate Resilience Festival
Gardner Field in West Acton

Sun., June 9, 2-5 p.m. Repair Cafe
Scott Hall, First Parish, 24 Vernon Street, Framingham 
Volunteers will repair clothing, lamps, small appliances, electronic devices needing button batteries, computers and other electronics, bikes, toys, dull blades, and more.

Wed., June 12, 7:45 p.m. Framingham Sustainability Committee meeting: presentation on de-paving by CREW. (See above item on depaving and check the Public Meeting Calendar for Zoom link and full agenda.)

Sat., June 15, 12-4 p.m.  Public Lands Summer Fest
Food, music, games, giveaways, and more. Come by our table and say hello!

Sat., June 15, 11 a.m-2:30 p.m. Clean energy home tour (open to all)
Acton, MA (address shared on registration)

Sun., June 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tour de Natick Father's Day Bike Ride (open to all, registration required)

Wed., June 19, 7-8 p.m.  Save $ with Community Solar - No Roof Required (online)
Energize Framingham is a co-sponsor with plugINmetrowest.

Thur., June 20, 7 p.m. Pollinator friendly plants: understanding nature's complex connections 
Framingham Public Library, McAuliffe Branch. 
With Neela de Zoysa, Botanist and Instructor at Native Plant Trust. Sponsored by the Framingham Sustainability and Agriculture Advisory Committees and the Framingham Public Library.

Sat., June 22, 1-6 p.m. JuneteenthFest 2024
Farm Pond Park (Barbieri Elementary School Gym, If Raining). Look for our table and come say hello!

Wed., June 26, 6:30-8 p.m. Heat Pump Pizza Party
Community Senior Center, Room 125
117 E Central St, Natick  (open to all but RSVP requested)

IN THE NEWS

Framingham

Prestigious fellowship will allow Framingham High teacher to spend a week in Alaska (MetroWest Daily News) 
Highlighting Rebecca Maynard, AP Environmental Science Teacher.

For these older MetroWest activists, climate change requires more than petitions, letters (MetroWest Daily News)
Highlighting Energize Framingham member Jenny Allen.

Massachusetts

A hot trend to stay cool in Somerville: Rip up the backyard pavement (Boston Globe) 
The movement may also soon spread to Framingham, where advocacy groups are engaged in community outreach to launch some projects.

Will Central Mass. hit the jackpot? Big dollars at stake to fight climate change (Worcester Telegram)
The Central Mass. Regional Planning Commission is applying to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for $30 million from the federal Inflation Reduction Act. The application could climb to $45 million. 

Massachusetts is a lot hotter than it was in the ‘70s (Axios)
The Bay State's average temperature has risen 3.5°F in about a half-century, second only to Alaska and Delaware, according to analysis from Climate Central.

Region

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