At its meeting Monday evening, the Town Council approved a charge for the Energy and Climate Action Committee. The Committee will build on the efforts of the Town to address climate change at the municipal level and broaden those efforts to include the greater community. The Committee will be responsible for recommending long-term climate action goals that focus on reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and building adaptation and resilience within and across the Town’s residential, commercial, and municipal sectors. It will also guide the Town in establishing and meeting its climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience goals.
Membership will include seven residents, some of whom shall have experience with one or more of the following areas: net zero energy building; energy efficient retrofits; climate change mitigation/advocacy/research; clean energy practice/policy/infrastructure; community choice energy; green infrastructure for climate adaptation; sustainable transportation; sustainable farming and forestry; waste reduction; and environmental or climate justice, and other relevant areas. Two members shall be from the Town Council
The Town previously released a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory in 2001 and a Climate Action Plan in 2005. In addition, the Town became a Green Community in 2012, a state program that emphasizes pro-actively implementing energy efficiency projects at the municipal level that ultimately work towards the same goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In 2017, Amherst produced a revised and updated Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.
If you are interested in volunteering to serve, please fill out a Community Activity Form at: www.amherstma.gov/caf
If you have questions, reach out to your Community Participation Officers at GetInvolved@amherstma.gov