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IN THIS ISSUE

Mayor creates a Composting Task Force
Climate Forum recap: Are candidates ready for action?
FSC makes recommendations to the city
Briefs | Upcoming events | In the news

Mayor creates a Composting Task Force

Deadline to apply is Friday, November 3

On October 17, Energize Framingham scored a big victory! Thanks in large part to our letter-writing campaign, public testimony, and curbside composting membership drive, Mayor Charles Sisistky signed an executive order  creating a Mayoral Food Composting Task Force, his first executive order of 2023. The task force will submit recommendations to the Mayor on composting of the city’s food waste. Its 13 members will include:

• Department of Public Works Director Bob Lewis

• Sanitation Operations Manager Darren Guertin

• Recycling Coordinator Eve Carey

• District 7 City Councilor Leora Mallach

• A member of the City Council’s Environmental & Sustainability Subcommittee 

• A member of  the School Committee’s Climate Change, Environmental and Sustainability Subcommittee

• Framingham Public Schools Executive Director of Operations or his designee

• Two members of Energize Framingham members, appointed by the Mayor

• Two other Framingham residents, appointed by the Mayor

• One member of the Framingham Sustainability Committee, appointed by the Mayor

• One member of the Framingham High Environmental Club, appointed by the Mayor

Apply here for a spot on the Task Force

Climate Forum recap: Are candidates ready for action?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

By Nancy Fliesler

At October 21’s Climate Forum, organized by Energize Framingham and First Parish’s Climate Action Team, candidates for City Council (including many sitting Councilors) voiced support for various climate actions. Most notably:

• solar panels on city buildings

• expanding the city’s electric vehicle fleets and charging infrastructure

• adding green spaces to the city

• expanding trails and open spaces

• improving transportation options

• citywide curbside composting

• cleaning up contaminated sites. 

But beyond citing support, few gave specifics of how to tap into the historic amount of Federal money available for such projects. Stefanini called for starting with a strategic plan. As Aimee Powelka, moderator and community lead for Energize Framingham noted, the Climate Action Plan process is currently underway in Framingham, led by the Mayor’s office, and is looking for participation and input.

Roll call: Who was there? 

Sitting City Councilors George King (At Large), Adam Steiner (District 3), Phillip Ottaviani (D6), Leora Mallach (D7), John Stefanini (D8), and Tracey Bryant (D9) attended the Forum.

So did four new candidates: Sean Silk and Brandon Ward (running for an empty seat in D2), Leslie White Harvey (challenging Stefanini in D8), and Jose Ferreira (challenging Bryant in D9).

Councilors Christine Long (D1) and Michael Cannon (D4) declined to attend. Councilor Janet Leombruno (At Large) canceled but sent a video and written responses to questions. Councilor Noval Alexander (D5) had a last-minute family emergency. All four are running unopposed.

Kicking off the forum, State Representative Priscila Souza (representing most of South Framingham and a portion of District 4 in North Framingham) called for bringing sustainability to everyone in a way that’s equitable, noting that renewable energy has been “deeply rooted in privilege.”

Mixed support for the ‘Net Zero’ energy code

Candidates were divided on the question of adopting the state’s new Opt-in Specialized Energy Code in Framingham. 

Adopted by more than 20 municipalities so far, the Opt-in code (sometimes called the Net Zero code) aims to minimize carbon emissions from new buildings. While it doesn’t ban fossil fuels, it requires that new buildings be extremely well insulated and pre-wired to accommodate electric space heating, electric water heating, and electric appliances like stoves and clothes dryers.

Buildings account for about 30 percent of Massachusetts greenhouse gas emissions, and adoption of the code would qualify Framingham for state funding through the Climate Leaders program.

Steiner and Ward voiced support for adopting the code, Ward noting that Worcester, Watertown, and Somerville have taken this step.

Other candidates raised concerns that the opt-in code would lead to unaffordable housing. (Editor’s note: For another view, check out this report about the Boston Housing Authority!) Silk felt the existing stretch code (which Framingham adopted in 2012) is enough. Ottaviani agreed, and implied the Opt-in code would drive business away from Framingham. King mentioned implementation problems in other (unnamed) communities, and stated that the Opt-in code should be required at the state level “so everyone plays by the same rules.” 

While Stefanini stated support for the Opt-in code, he said it would only apply to a handful of new units in Framingham. “This is going to have zero impact on reaching our 2030 goal,” he stated, calling for a master plan that focuses on more effective measures.

Harvey and Bryant suggested learning how other cities have made this work. “We do have to look at it carefully,” said Bryant, who is vice chair of the Planning & Zoning Subcommittee. “It could help, if it’s done correctly. If you dismiss it out of hand, then you never get there.” 

Mallach said the Subcommittee on Environment and Sustainability, of which she is Vice Chair, is investigating this question. She noted that at the subcommittee’s June meeting, the city building commissioner (Fred Bray) and Chief Operating Officer (Michael Tusino) said they would convene discussion groups. She encourages people who support the Opt-in code to inquire with her Subcommittee about the status of the city officials’ report back.

Retrofits, composting, green space, and support for Shawn Luz

Nearly all candidates favored allocating city funds to help seniors, renters, and low/moderate income residents retrofit their older homes for energy efficiency and better health.

Leombruno was the sole “no.” In her written response, she said this is already being done with Community Development Block Grants and Mass Save programs.

To our delight, two questions garnered a unanimous “yes”: “Do you support the City financially supporting residential curbside composting?” and “Would you support City spending to add green spaces?” We look forward to working with the new City Council to make progress on both of these issues.

On green space, Harvey and Ferreira cited concerns about quality of life for the residents of South Framingham, which tends to be hotter with little green space and new housing developments potentially displacing parks. (The McAuliffe Center-led heat mapping study, just out, found a 10 degree difference!) 

“We have to maintain what we have,” Ferreira said. “I see more buildings and more buildings going up the city’s just going so fast there’s just not going to be any other spot to put a park.” 

Several candidates (Steiner, Mallach, Harvey, and Silk) called for more resources and/or additional staff to support Sustainability Coordinator Shawn Luz, currently the only person in such a role for the city.

Watch the Forum on YouTube (begins about 28:40)

Framingham Sustainability Committee’s FY25 recommendations to the city

Last month, the Framingham Sustainability Committee, appointed by the Mayor, issued its annual recommendations to the Mayor and City Council. It’s calling on them to:

• Prioritize obtaining Federal funding for clean energy, equity, and climate projects, through the Infrastructure Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, and state funding through a Climate Leaders designation (requiring adoption of the Specialized Opt-in Energy Code).

• Continue to work with the community on a Climate Action Plan.

• Pursue opportunities to support curbside food waste pickup.

• Combat climate change impacts in Framingham with a focus on Environmental Justice neighborhoods, through actions like planting more trees, enacting a tree preservation ordinance, pursuing sustainable splash pads, and funding pollution mitigation to keep beaches open.

Improve climate resiliency by: making clean energy a priority when planning retrofits or new municipal buildings (like Hemenway Elementary and a new South Side Elementary); adopting the Opt-in Specialized Energy Code; adopting green infrastructure; and incentivizing retrofits of older housing stock to increase energy efficiency and community health.

BRIEFS

Geothermal update

Eversource reports that main pipe installation work is expected to be 100 percent complete by mid-November. Borehole drilling continues at the Farley Lot at MassBay Community College and the fire station on Concord Street, and will soon begin on Rose Kennedy Lane (Framingham Housing Authority). The project hosted various VIP guests in October, including U.S. House of Representatives Minority Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5), who touted the project in an email to constituents, and U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss (MA-4). At least nine other utility companies including National Grid also came to view the progress.

In its latest webinar, Eversource gives a construction update and a timeline of upcoming in-home customer work ahead of system turn-on.

News from the MetroWest Trails Forum

The Metrowest Area Planning Council held its 2023 MetroWest Trails Forum in Framingham on October 26 at which Mayor Sisitsky provided the welcome. The forum laid out an exciting vision for our region to be linked by rail trails – east to Boston and west to Northampton via the Mass Central rail trail, and north to Lowell via the Bruce Freeman rail trail. The East Coast Greenway, a national bike trail from Key West through Maine, will also pass through Framingham. 

To achieve this vision, Framingham must acquire or improve several connecting routes. The Chris Walsh Memorial Trail must be extended to connect Farm Pond to the MBTA Commuter Rail station; it would run across the aqueduct dividing Farm Pond and over the active CSX rail yard. Purchase of a separate, inactive SX rail line is needed to connect Framingham to the Bruce Freeman rail trail; this purchase has thus far been held up by the federal surface transportation board and is being addressed by U.S. Councilor Katherine Clark.

Framingham’s state representatives Priscila Sousa, Jack Lewis, Danielle Gregoire attended the forum, as well as Framingham City Councilors  Leora Mallach, Phil Ottaviani, and John Stefanini, and City Council candidate Brandon Ward. Twelve communities, four state agencies, and three local non-profits also attended.

Creating climate resiliency along I-90

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs awarded the Metropolitan Area Planning Council $150,000 to create an I-90 Corridor Plan with Framingham, Natick, Newton and Wellesley. Climate resilience awards help communities coordinate development across municipal borders, protect open space, and create zoning rules and housing plans that mitigate the impacts of flooding and extreme heat caused by climate change.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Bookmark our website for more events!

DEADLINE: Fri., Nov. 3: Mayoral Food Composting Task Force applications due. (See first story)

All month: Neaten Up November
Keep Framingham Beautiful (KFB) invites you to do small litter pickups in your area before the holidays arrive. Once you do your pickup, post your bag total to the KFB Facebook Group with a picture of something beautiful, something cool, something you’re grateful for, or someone you cleaned up with or saw along the way. Questions? Email [email protected].

Sat., Nov. 4, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Climate Change and our Health
$25 fee to register for the course

Sun. Nov. 5, Smash your Pumpkins! Two locations:
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: The Great Pumpkin Smash in Lincoln: Smash your pumpkins and gourds and then feed them to the pigs at Codman Community Farms.
1-3 p.m.: Natick’s Pumpkin Smash!: Launch your pumpkins with a trebuchet or smash them at Natick’s Memorial School before they’re sent to be composted.

Wed., Nov. 8, 6-7:30 p.m. Framingham Sustainability Committee meeting
The committee meets the second Wednesday of every month. Zoom link, agenda and meeting materials on the City's Public Meeting Calendar. (Materials are posted a minimum of 48 hours in advance.)

Thurs., Nov. 9, 7 p.m. Webinar: New Building Codes: Good for You and the Planet 
Speakers from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the Sustainable Lexington Committee, and the Weston Sustainability Committee will discuss the state’s new Opt-in Specialized Energy Code code and why it makes sense for communities in the Commonwealth. Presented by MetroWest Climate Solutions. Register 

Sat., Nov. 11, 10 a.m. Friends of Framingham Trails Annual Meeting
Loring Arena Conference Room (2nd floor). Get an update on trails and help plan the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebration (see below).

Wed., Nov. 15, 4-7 p.m. Energy Assistance Fair
Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central Street, Natick.

Sun., Dec. 31: First Annual New Year’s Eve at the Cochituate Rail Trail!
Ring in 2024 with style! Community organizations, groups, and small businesses will host fire pits, offer family friendly-activities, and serve hot drinks, s’mores, and other treats. A drug- and alcohol-free event sponsored by Friends of Framingham Trails (FoFT), in partnership with the City of Framingham. Seeking volunteers and station hosts; to stay in the loop email: [email protected] or attend the Nov. 11 meeting above.

IN THE NEWS

Framingham

Framingham Mayor To Create Composting Task Force (Patch) (see story above)

McAuliffe Center-led Heat Mapping Campaign Identifies Urban Heat Islands Where Temperatures Register More than 10 Degrees Hotter Than Greener Areas (Framingham Source)
During the hottest period of July 13, temperatures in more urban areas of Framingham, Natick, Ashland and Holliston came in at 91.1 degrees Fahrenheit, versus 80.9 degrees in less urban areas. 

Climate change magnets given to most 'vulnerable' residents. What they teach (Metrowest Daily News)
Framingham and Natick sustainability staff, along with community climate liaisons, developed flyers and refrigerator magnets to help people in vulnerable communities prepare for climate emergencies. 

My ‘polar bear’ approach to the climate crisis (WBUR Cogniscenti)
Wayland resident Sabine von Mering explains why she’s been standing on the side of Route 9 in Framingham almost every Saturday morning in a homemade polar bear costume. 

Massachusetts lawmakers visit Framingham’s Eversource geothermal energy site (WCVB) 

Massachusetts

Massachusetts climate chief calls for sweeping actions to reduce emissions (WGBH)
Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer issues sweeping recommendations to accelerate emissions reduction.

Gov. Healey sees merit in proposed Mass Save overhaul (NBC Boston)
Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer recommends major reform, saying Mass Save “is failing to take the steps necessary to achieve the transformative levels of building decarbonization required." 

Biden-Harris Administration announces nearly $4.2 million for environmental justice projects in communities across Massachusetts as part of Investing in America agenda (EPA press release)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is funding a variety of projects benefiting Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Fitchburg, Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, and the Connecticut River Valley region.

Passive house design is on display in Boston's affordable housing portfolio (NBC Boston)
The Boston Housing Authority is integrating carbon-free building practices into public housing. Hundreds of units are being retrofitted, with health benefits as well as environmental benefits.

Skyscraper in Boston is now the largest 'passive house' office space in the world  (WBUR)
The 812,000 square-foot Winthrop Center office space passed multiple tests to ensure walls and windows insulate the building efficiently. The building uses 65% less energy to heat and cool compared to similar buildings.

There’s an urban farm in Boston growing 6,000 pounds of produce a year. It happens to be located on the roof of Fenway Park  (CNN)
Fenway Farms is a roughly 5,000-square-foot rooftop garden area tucked up behind the third baseline.

America’s first major offshore wind farm installs first of 62 huge turbines from GE unit  (CNBC)
The first turbine has been installed in the waters off Martha’s Vineyard. The project will ultimately power more than 400,000 Massachusetts homes and businesses.

These are the biggest risks climate change poses to Mass. (NBC Boston)
The ResilientMass Plan calls for nearly 150 actions to combat inland flooding and other threats. Plus, the state is launching a new Office of Climate Science. 

Region

How Maine became the heat pump capital of the U.S.  (Bloomberg)
One in five new homes has a heat pump. Maine has over the past decade subsidized the purchase of more than 100,000 heat pumps, which both warm and cool buildings and slash greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is threatening farms across New England. Here’s how farmers are responding. (NH Public Radio)  
Farmers are getting help from state and federal programs and changing some of their practices to become more resilient to heavy rains, heat, pests, and drought.

ABOUT US

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

Editors: Nancy Fliesler and Aimee Powelka
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