May 2025

May 17, 2025

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

Earth Day Festival wrap
Stop building obsolete buildings in Framingham!
City’s FY26 budget omits solar
Trees and trails updates
FHS students take sustainability lessons to middle schools
Upcoming events | In the news

Earth Day Festival wrap

Huge thanks to Jenni Wiech for organizing our presence at the Earth Day Festival this year.

We had a wonderful showing, despite May 3 being the rain date. Kids stopped by to make solar panels, EV charging stations, and more in our cardboard city, shown off here by Jenni. We also talked up our Tree Equity Action group, which seeks to plant trees in Framingham’s heat island areas. 

Importantly, we got 79 signatures on our Building Framingham’s Future petition!  We’re asking the city to take the final steps needed to qualify Framingham as a Massachusetts Climate Leader Community – making us eligible for more state grants. More on this in the next story. See more Earth Day photos on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Stop building obsolete buildings in Framingham!

(Image: rawpixel)

Multiple new buildings are being planned for downtown and elsewhere around Framingham. Wouldn’t it be good if these buildings were built to meet our clean energy goals? And wouldn’t it be good to have access to more state funding to help us become a cleaner, climate-friendly community?

If you agree, sign our petition and tell your City Councilor that you want the Council to vote to adopt the Opt-in Specialized Building Code. (Locate your district here and find your Councilor’s email address here.) 

Passing the Specialized Code, along with completing a Municipal Decarbonization plan to get city and school buildings off of fossil fuels, are the final two of six steps that Framingham needs to take to become a Climate Leader Community:

Why be a Climate Leader?

A Climate Leader designation from the state Department of Energy Resources (DOER) will open doors to grant funding, resources, and tools that would directly benefit Framingham. These include: 

  • up to $150,000 in technical support around renewable energy and energy storage 

  • up to $1M in decarbonization (electrification) accelerator grants

  • support for projects ranging from new geothermal systems to solar arrays on school and municipal buildings to heat pump installations to electric vehicle fleets and charging stations.

Nineteen other communities including Natick, Cambridge, and Watertown became the state’s first Climate Leader communities on May 2. We hope Framingham can benefit from this program as well – as we have benefited from past state programs such as the Community Preservation Act and the Green Communities program. 

We are most of the way there! Read on…

What is the Specialized Code?

If passed by the City Council, the Specialized Code would require that newly constructed buildings in Framingham either be fossil-fuel-free, or use fossil fuel systems but be pre-wired for hookups of heat pumps and electric appliances and install solar panels (shaded homes are exempt). No building retrofits or additions will be subject to this code.

The Specialized Code is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions: buildings account for about 35 percent of emissions in Massachusetts. It will also enable future residents, whether owners or renters, to enjoy lower energy bills – something we all wish we could have. Finally, it avoids costly retrofits that would be needed in the future to meet state clean energy goals.

The fine print: 

  • Under the code, most homes larger than 4,000 square feet will require solar panels (if their roof is shaded) or another renewable power source. Alternatively, builders can go all-electric or choose a passive house approach (see below). 

  • Buildings larger than 12,000 square feet must meet the passive house standard, which entails a well insulated and air-sealed building envelope and uses sun and shade to minimize heating and cooling needs. 

Developers and builders can access upfront incentives from MassSave and tax credits through the state’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Studies have found that buildings that satisfy the Specialized Code cost about the same amount of money to build and that residents would enjoy energy cost savings of more than 20 percent for a single family home.

Sign our petition!

Residents signing the petition at the Earth Day Festival.

We are asking the Framingham City Council to pass the Specialized Code as soon as possible. More than 50 communities have already passed it, including Natick, Ashland, Wayland, Sudbury, Needham, and Worcester. (See the full map.)

Green building standards have been under discussion in Framingham since at least 2022 (see “Green zoning for Framinghham?” in our July/August 2022 newsletter). Let’s finally make it happen!!

Sign the petition here, or write your City Councilor (locate your district here, find your Councilor’s email address here). There’s a sample email on our website (click the tab “Steps to Take”)

Learn more

Framingham’s FY2026 budget omits sustainability positions, solar

(Image: pixabay.com)

The new budget recently presented by the Mayor’s office to the City Council had some disappointments. Sadly, it declined to fund the following positions, most of them currently vacant:

  • Recycling Coordinator (currently vacant) – $55,947 

  • Trails and Conservation Land Manager (currently vacant) – $49,965 

  • Assistant Conservation Administrator (currently vacant)  – $62,838 

  • Environmental Protection Officer (anticipated vacancy) – $73,686

Missed solar opportunities

Replacing a roof is the ideal time for solar panels, when installation is much more cost-effective. Unfortunately, the city’s new five-year Capital Improvement Plan (FY26-FY30) includes replacement of several roofs over the next several years, without money designated for solar:

FY26 BUDGET:

  • Main library roof replacement design – $175,000

  • Roof replacement Memorial Building – $1,450,000

FY27 BUDGET:

  • Farley solar construction - $3,000,000 – Thank you, Mayor Sisitsky!

  • Roof replacement police headquarters (design) – $265,000 

  • Main library roof replacement (construction) – $1,300,000

  • Memorial Building roof replacement (construction) – $1,700,000

FY28 BUDGET:

Roof replacement Police headquarters (construction) – $1,550,000

FY29  BUDGET:

Barbieri roof construction – $6,600,000

Farley solar: deferred but still alive

As shown above, the FY27 budget does include $3M for installation of a solar roof on the Farley Administration Building – something we advocated for last year. A design study is currently underway for that.

We’re calling for a five-year renewable energy plan

As part of the Municipal Decarbonization Roadmap needed to become a Climate Leader, Energize Framingham is urging the city to invest in renewable energy via a five-year capital plan. Solar roofs in particular will save the city money and pay for themselves over time by offsetting electricity costs. 

The hope is that if citizens pass the revised City Charter this November, we will have a new Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer who can drive this kind of long-range planning. The City Council approved adding the position to the Charter last September. If citizens approve the new Charter, the position would need to be funded through the usual budget process.

Trails update

The Bruce Freeman Trail in its current state.

Framingham has made great progress on its nature trails, based on presentations to the City Council on May 6 (jump to 2:51:40).

The Carol Getchell trail’s north section will soon be resurfaced with compacted gravel and will get a new bridge and viewing platform, while the south section gets a new boardwalk. Both sections are expected to be ADA-accessible and complete this fall. Design work for the middle section will likely be funded in FY26 per recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee. Other trail funders include SuAsCo, the Solomon Foundation, Saxonville Mills, Mass Trails, Saxonville Realty Trust, and Betty Chipman, a longtime community member who passed away in 2024. 

The city aims to select a designer for the planned Chris Walsh Memorial Trail by September. This trail, linking Farm Pond with downtown Framingham and the commuter rail, has federal, state, and local funding and a $20 million estimated cost. At the City Council meeting, Councilors King and Cannon argued for a floating boardwalk, similar to one in Marlborough (see our April issue). Alison Eliot of Parks & Recreation said the department is talking with people in Marlborough to learn more. Meanwhile, for a nice perspective on the trail’s Sudbury Aqueduct section, check out this Instagram post.

When the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail’s Framingham portion is complete, it will link Framingham with Lowell. Design of Framingham’s 3.4-mile section was 10 percent done as of March, and construction is expected in FY29. Of note, the trail connects to the Mass Central Rail Trail (spanning Boston to Northampton) and the East Coast Greenway, which is partially done and would span Maine to Florida. While the Bruce Freeman trail is very popular, Councilor Christine Long noted some abutters’ concerns about people parking on neighborhood streets to use the trail. Some stormwater issues also need to be addressed.

The Cochituate Rail Trail, connecting Framingham with Natick Center, may get some public art: The Friends of Framingham Trails is collaborating with the Cultural Councll to make this happen. Reach out to the Friends if you’d like to get involved.

In other trails-related news, kudos to Ron Chick. A long-time advocate for Framingham trails and trail accessibility and co-founder of Friends of Framingham Trails, Chick was recently appointed to the statewide Trail Access Working Group.

BRIEFS

Next trees meeting June 28

(Image: rawpixel)

Energize Framingham’s newly formed Tree Equity Action group is meeting again on Saturday, June 28, at the Framingham Main Library. This follow-up to the March meeting (see our April issue for details) will aim to include more community voices, further discuss tree planting projects, and build groups of volunteers from the community. For volunteering, partnerships, or further information, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].

FHS students inspire middle schoolers around global sustainability

Students do an experiment using a baking tray and oil. (Source: FPS)

Showing the power of peer leadership, a group of Framingham High School students designed interactive lessons and activities around their chosen topics, including biodiversity, plastic pollution, water contamination, mining, and coral reef degradation. They then brought their lessons to life at Fuller and Cameron Middle Schools, engaging and inspiring their younger peers. The older students were inspired by FHS teacher Rebecca Maynard, who was a Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow in 2024.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

Tues., May 20, 7-8 p.m. Webinar: Heat pump - heat and cool all in one!
Co-sponsored by plugIN Metrowest, a multi-town (Acton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Sudbury, Wayland, and Westborough) effort that aims to electrify homes and communities

Wed., May 21, 6-7 p.m. Invest Your Money In Climate Solutions
Learn how you can invest in companies working to address climate change AND earn a return on your money. Sponsored by Energize Ashland.

Wed., May 28, 7-8:15 p.m. Mass Save: Friend of Our Future (online)

Sat., May 31, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Framingham Student Cooler Communities Fair
Fuller Middle School, 31 Flagg Drive, Framingham
See student projects on a variety of climate and sustainability topics. While there, check out our companion event next door:

Sat., May 31, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tour Geothermal, Solar, EV Charging 
Fuller Middle School, 31 Flagg Drive, Framingham
Tour Framingham’s first-in-the-nation networked geothermal project and adjacent solar panels, battery storage, and EV charging stations at Fuller Middle School. Presented en Portuguese, en Espanol, and in English. 

Tues., Jun. 3, 7-8:30 p.m. Paved paradise: The ecological impacts of America’s highway system
FREE web event with Ben Goldfarb, award winning author and environmental journalist.

Sun., Jun. 8, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Fourth Annual Jewish Climate Action Conference 
Temple Beth Elohim, 10 Bethel Road, Wellesley (hybrid event).

Save the dates

Sat., Jun. 28, 10-11:30 a.m. Second tree planting community meeting
Costin Room, Framingham Public Library, 49 Lexington Street. Sponsored by Energize Framingham!

Fridays, Jul. 18 and 25, 5-6:15 p.m. Tasty, Fun & Beautiful: Creating a Family Herb Box
Roosevelt Park (Jul. 18) and Bates Park (Jul. 25), Framingham
This interactive, hands-on program is designed for parents and kids to experience the joy of growing herbs while using all of their senses! A collaboration between Open Spirit’s Nourishing Gardens Project, Tasty Harvests, and Framingham Dept. of Parks & Recreation. Register at the above link (small fee).

IN THE NEWS

Framingham/Metrowest

Framingham City Councilor Adam Steiner won't seek reelection this fall. Here's why (Metrowest Daily News) 
Adam Steiner, chair of the City Council’s Environment and Sustainability Subcommittee, has decided to not seek a fifth term on the Council this fall. We understand and wish him well – but we will miss having an advocate for climate and sustainability issues on the City Council! 

Realtor.com gave Mass. an 'F' for housing production. Framingham officials explain why (Metrowest Daily News)
Framingham Director of Planning and Community Development Sarkis Sarkisian said that energy codes contribute to the expense of building housing, but so do other factors like lumber costs and water/sewer infrastructure and zoning laws. Sarkisian also said Framingham is building at a far greater rate than its neighbors.

Natick now officially a Climate Leader Community (Natick Report)
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has certified the first group of Climate Leader Communities, and Natick is among them. These 19 municipalities are eligible to apply for grants of up to $1.15M each for greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects.

Massachusetts/Region

​​How these Massachusetts communities are pushing forward to meet state climate goals  (Commonwealth Beacon)
From Watertown’s third net-zero school to solar arrays on a Danvers landfill to Newton’s municipal fleet of electric vehicles, municipalities are moving ahead on climate action despite budget challenges and the rollback of federal support. Also highlighted are electricity aggregation and the plugIN program in which Framingham is participating. “The more localized climate action is, the less likely it is that Trump can reach it and damage it,” says one state senator.

Massport hires first climate chief (Commonwealth Beacon)
The Massachusetts Port Authority, which owns and operates Logan International Airport, has hired its first chief climate and resilience officer.

Why does it feel like summertime is increasingly bleeding into May? (Boston Globe) 
Our region has seen a steady increase in the number of 70- and 80-degree days in May in recent years, particularly across Massachusetts.

Massachusetts needs more EVs on the road to meet its climate goals. Its best tool is under attack. (Boston Globe)
House Republicans in Washington voted to roll back a program that would require local dealers to sell more EVs.

Porous pavement an alternative to asphalt. So why isn't it used more in Central Mass? (Worcester Telegram) 
Porous pavement can minimize runoff in heavy rains, but it’s more expensive and can’t hold up to car and truck traffic. Some communities are using it for parking lots and pedestrian paths.

An $18M grant would have drastically reduced food waste. Then the EPA cut it. (Grist)
The Rhode Island project to create local jobs, launch compost hubs, and reduce emissions was years in the making.

Electric Heat Pumps Get Warm Reviews at Queens Public Housing Development (THE CITY) 
Residents say the eco-friendly alternatives to steam radiators have served them well through the winter.

National/General interest

Clean energy is powering local economies in Texas (Yale Climate Connections)
Wind, solar, and battery storage projects are generating billions in tax revenue for communities, a University of Texas study finds. 

In the Wake of Disasters, Rural Health Could End Up Running on Sunshine  (Daily Yonder)
Solar microgrids and other modern technologies could transform care delivery in disaster-prone, underserved areas.

Rewiring America Slashes Staff Due to Trump Funding Freeze (Heatmap)
The leading electrification nonprofit laid off 28 percent of its staff due to its inability to access billions in funding it had been awarded through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The freeze by the Trump administration is currently being challenged in court.

Punitive Clean Vehicle Tax Would Harm Consumers—and Especially Seniors—But Won’t Solve Road Funding Shortfalls (Consumer Reports)
With a $250 annual federal tax, the average EV owner would pay more than three times as much in tax as the average owner of a new gasoline-powered vehicle. Moreover, while the bill ties the clean vehicle taxes to inflation, it makes no such change to the gas tax. 

All Authors Working on Flagship U.S. Climate Report Are Dismissed (New York Times)
The Trump administration has dismissed the hundreds of scientists and experts who had been compiling the federal government’s flagship report on how global warming is affecting the country. The move puts the National Climate Assessment into serious jeopardy, experts said.

In His First 100 Days, Trump Launched an ‘All-Out Assault’ on the Environment (Inside Climate News)
The threat posed is on a “new level,” environmental groups and legal experts say.

Why Trump’s executive order targeting state climate laws is probably illegal (Grist)
The Justice Department has been directed to challenge state laws aimed at addressing the climate crisis — a campaign legal scholars called unconstitutional and climate activists said is sure to fail. 

How Is Climate Change Harming Health? Studying That Just Got Harder. (New York Times)
The N.I.H. has indicated that it will stop funding research on the health effects of climate change.

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