Municipal Advocate - Climate Change - The Massachusetts Municipal Association
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Municipal Advocate The Massachusetts Municipal Association
Climate Change
MVP Program | Climate Action Networks
Challenges on Cape | Lessons From Pandemic
State of the Coast
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Municipal Advocate
Vol. 30, No. 2 The Massachusetts Municipal Association
8 VP: Preparing the Commonwealth’s
M
Communities for Climate Change
By David Ismay
The Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program has
distributed more than $40 million to help Massachusetts
cities and towns become more climate resilient.
12 tatewide Network Thinks Globally and
S
Acts Locally to Battle Climate Change
By Carol Oldham and Sarah Dooling
More than 100 cities and towns are partnering with
the Massachusetts Climate Action Network—and
each other—to tackle the causes of climate change.
16 E specially Vulnerable Cape Towns
Act Regionally on Climate Change
By Lisa Capone 24 T rustees’ State of the Coast Report
Surrounded by rising seas, Cape Cod is ground zero Finds Thousands of North Shore
for climate change impacts. The fifteen towns are Buildings May Flood in Next 10 Years
developing and deploying a range of prevention, By John Ouellette
mitigation and adaptation strategies backed by science A new report highlights dramatic climate change-
and community input. driven impacts of sea level rise and storm flooding
on the North Shore—a call to action for thirteen
20 unicipalities on the Frontline of Climate
M cities and towns.
Change: What COVID-19 Has Taught Us
About Resiliency 29 L AW: Municipal Adaptations,
By Moneer Azzam and Julie Smith-Galvin Collaborations Are Key to
Like the coronavirus, climate change requires Community Resilience
municipalities to take bold, concerted, multi-faceted By Katherine Garrahan
action to flatten the curve, and there’s no time to waste. A culture of collaboration is keeping Massachusetts
cities and towns on track as the COVID-19
rollercoaster continues.
DEPARTMENTS
5 Resources 7 Ask the Advocate 32 Legal Directory
The Municipal Advocate (14 1046-2422) is published quarterly (spring, summer, fall, winter) by the Massachusetts Municipal Association, One Winthrop Square, Boston, MA 02110; 617-426-7272; www.mma.org.
Copyright © 2021 by the Massachusetts Municipal Association. All rights reserved. Subscription rates are $49 per year for MMA members, $99 per year for all others. Subscriptions are included in dues payments for
member communities. Advocate subscriptions include the annual Massachusetts Municipal Directory. This publication and the MMA assume no responsibility for the statements made by contributors in signed articles.
MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2 1IN A WORLD OF CYBER THREATS,
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617-426-7272 800-882-1498 emiia.org One Winthrop Square, Boston, MA 02110About This Issue Municipal Advocate
A
Manager of Publications & Digital Communications
John Ouellette
s a coastal state with wide swaths of dense development and Communications & Membership Director
infrastructure that predates the weather impacts we see today, Candace Pierce
Associate Editor
Massachusetts is particularly vulnerable to the effects of Jennifer Kavanaugh
climate change. It is also a national leader on many fronts, with Digital Communications Coordinator
ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the Meredith Gabrilska
impacts of climate volatility. This issue explores inroads being made Advertising
Karen LaPointe
at the state and local level. Design and Layout
Deborah Bush Design, Inc.
• The administration’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program Publisher & MMA Executive Director
Geoffrey Beckwith
provides tools—and grants—to communities to address concerns on
the front line. Nearly nine in ten communities are participating in
MVP, taking advantage of its assistance for planning and for the
implementation of actions to mitigate storm damage.
• The Massachusetts Climate Action Network is partnering with more
than one hundred cities and towns across the state to dramatically Massachusetts
reduce emissions and purchase more local renewable energy. Municipal Association
2021 Board of Directors
• The fifteen towns on Cape Cod continue to work together, as they
President
have for years, to develop and deploy preventative, mitigating and Adam Chapdelaine
adaptive climate strategies. Town Manager, Arlington
Vice President
Ruthanne Fuller
• And there just might be some lessons learned from the COVID-19 Mayor, Newton
pandemic that can help us take bold and multi-faceted action ATFC President
to “flatten the curve” with the same sense of urgency applied to Brian Boyle
Advisory Committee, Bolton
fighting a disease.
MMaA President
Scott Galvin
This issue would not be complete, however, without a cautionary Mayor, Woburn
tale. The Trustees of Reservations is mounting a five-year effort to MMCA President
Lisa Blackmer
assess the vulnerability of five key coastal areas. Its first report has Councillor, North Adams
sobering news for thirteen cities and towns on the North Shore. MMMA President
We hope you find this issue informative and maybe even inspiring. Julie Jacobson
Town Manager, Auburn
MSA President
Michael Bettencourt
Select Board, Winchester
Brian Arrigo John McLaughlin
Mayor, Revere Councillor, Waltham
How To Reach Us
Steve Bartha David Narkewicz
Town Manager, Danvers Mayor, Northampton
Lisa Braccio Moises Rodrigues
Selectman, Southborough Councillor, Brockton
W e encourage readers to send their letters, comments and story
ideas to the Municipal Advocate.
Cecilia Calabrese
Councillor, Agawam
George “Bud” Dunham
Jeovanny Rodriguez
Councillor, Lawrence
Alan Slavin
Town Manager, Sandwich Selectman, Wareham
Ralph Figy
Address mail to: Visit us at: Councillor, Westfield
Peter Spellios
Select Board, Swampscott
Andrew Flanagan
Advocate Editor www.mma.org Town Manager, Andover
Eric Steinhilber
Councillor, Barnstable
One Winthrop Square Twitter: @massmunicipal Claire Freda Kevin Sweet
Boston, MA 02110 Councillor, Leominster Town Administrator,
Facebook: facebook.com/massmunicipal Jill Hai Wrentham
Select Board, Lexington John Trickey
editor@mma.org Andrew Hogeland Finance Committee, Pelham
Select Board, Williamstown Linda Tyer
Donna Holaday Mayor, Pittsfield
Mayor, Newburyport Arthur Vigeant
Thomas Hutcheson Mayor, Marlborough
For information about advertising, Town Administrator, Conway Martin Walsh
contact Karen LaPointe at the MMA at Diane Kennedy Mayor, Boston
Select Board, Cohasset Michael Walsh
800-882-1498 or klapointe@mma.org Afroz Khan Select Board, Westwood
Councillor, Newburyport Kristi Williams
Dan Matthews Town Manager,
Select Board, Needham Westborough
MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2 3We Protect Them Like Family. ®
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4 MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2Resources
Livable Cities climate, energy and sustainability Legislation, Carbon Fee and Rebates,
W hat does goals. To download the report, visit Stop the Columbia Expansion Plan,
“livable”
NATIONAL
LEAGUE
OF CITIES icma.org/documents/smart-communities- Regenerative Farming, Forests and Food
mean? An exten- rethinking-infrastructure-report. Systems Alliance, and Racism-Climate
Change Connections. For more informa-
LIVABLE COMMUNITIES:
sive report from
INNOVATIVE,
INCLUSIVE AND
EQUITABLE CITIES
Emissions Strategies tion, visit climateactionnowma.org.
A
National League of
Cities, Livable Com- report from the
National Com- Underrepresented Populations
A
munities: Innovative,
Inclusive and Equi- plete Streets Coali- report from
table Cities, exam- tion, Driving Down International LEADING EDGE RESEARCH
ines the demographic, economic and Emissions: Trans- City/County Man-
Beyond
transportation characteristics associ- portation, Land Use agement Asso- Compliance:
ated with livable communities and aims and Climate Change, ciation, Beyond
Recruitment and Retention of
Underrepresented Populations
to Achieve Higher Positions in
to provide a framework for consider- provides five strate- Compliance:
Local Government
ing existing policies and practices as gies for putting a dent Recruitment and
well as presenting current examples. The in the growth of emissions while focusing Retention of Under- JANUARY 2019
report also provides a Scalability Assess- on improving equity within society. With represented Popu-
KENDRA L. SMITH, PH.D.
Director, Community Engagement
University of Houston – College of Medicine
ment tool to help cities determine what a complete transition to electric-powered lations to Achieve
policies could be implemented in their vehicles still a ways off, the report looks at Higher Positions in Local Government,
specific circumstances. To download the solutions that move away from the neces- highlights local governments strategies
free report, visit www.nlc.org/resource/ sity of car use and ownership, including that have worked to increase diversity
livable-communities-innovative-inclusive- safety in street design for cyclists and and foster inclusiveness. The report con-
and-equitable-cities. pedestrians, and increasing housing options tains recommendations for local leaders
where less driving is required. To download who are ready to build the programs, and
Energy Efficiency the free report, visit smartgrowthamerica. hiring and retention strategies that are
T he Massachusetts Department of org/resources/driving-down-emissions. equitable and recruit the best possible
Energy Resources’ Energy Efficiency candidates for positions within local gov-
Division develops and implements energy Climate Change ernment. To download the report, visit
efficiency policy across the state. The Adaptation Coalition icma.org/beyond-compliance.
T
division offers energy rebates and incen- he Massachusetts Climate Change
Basic Income
T
tives, as well as strategies for improving Adaptation Coalition works to make
energy efficiency in the home and other Massachusetts as resilient as possible in he National BIL
League of Cit-
BASIC INCOME LAB
efficiency-based programs. Visit www. the face of an already changing climate.
mass.gov/orgs/energy-efficiency-division. For a list of helpful resources, visit ies has published Basic Income
In Cities
Basic Income in
A guide to city experiments
www.massadapt.org/resources.php.
and pilot projects
Rethinking Infrastructure Cities: A Guide to
A joint effort by City Experiments
I nter nationa l
SMART COMMUNITIES: Protecting Land, Water and Pilot Projects.
Rethinking Infrastructure
and Health
T
City/County Man- The report and
agement Association he Environmental League of toolkit sees cities
and Siemens, Smart Massachusetts works to preserve the as uniquely positioned to innovate and
Com munities: state’s natural resources by supporting experiment in finding solutions to wide-
Rethinking Infra- compact and walkable communities, spread concerns. Identifying four major
structure Report, encouraging funding for environmental economic challenges faced by cities:
examines smart programs, building an up-to-date automation, precarious work, economic
technology being deployed by communi- transportation system, and ensuring insecurity and growing inequality, the
ties in their energy and water sectors, the sustainable management of water report lays out recommendations as to
including a case study from Cambridge. resources and parks. For more informa- how a city might employ a basic income
Deploying smart technology in city tion, visit www.environmentalleague.org. pilot program. To download the report,
infrastructure can help cities meet visit www.nlc.org/resource/basic-income-
Climate Justice
C
in-cities.
limate Action Now, based in western
Massachusetts, is a grassroots and State of Cities 2020
T
Descriptions in “Resources” are based
on materials provided by publishers, volunteer-based organization fighting he National League of Cities State of
associations and government agencies. for climate justice and a community- the Cities report for 2020 provides
Their inclusion does not constitute an centered response to climate change.
explicit endorsement by the MMA. CAN has five working groups: State continued on page 32
MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2 5NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN SAFETY ON THE JOB.
MIIA IS HERE FOR YOU
MIIA is supporting municipal efforts to create and sustain a thriving safety and health culture in the
workplace. Key technical courses satisfying the Department of Labor Standards and OSHA regulatory
compliance initiatives are available now. MIIA has partnered with the OSHA Training Education Center at
Keene State College to offer our members a unique opportunity to earn the OSHA Public Sector
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617-426-7272 800-882-1498 emiia.org One Winthrop Square, Boston, MA 02110Ask the Advocate
How Is Climate Change
Affecting Human Health?
Q: How is a changing climate affect-
ing human health in the U.S.?
be expected to increase in the Common-
wealth due to climate change, presenting
challenges for local water supplies. In
finds that 75 percent of Massachusetts
residents—about 4.8 million people—
live near the state’s 192-mile coastline
A: The U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention identifies a
number of health problems aggravated
addition, droughts weaken tree root
systems, making them more susceptible
and face potential damage to critical
infrastructure, salt marshes, and waterfront
by climate change. Flooding increases to toppling in high winds, and weaken homes and businesses due to sea level
the risk of illness and injury, and warmer vegetation generally, making it less able rise. The risk of sea level rise impacts has
average temperatures make the environ- to absorb heavy rainfalls. This is a prime caused some insurers to cancel coverage
ment more hospitable to organisms that example of the cascading environmental for thousands of coastal homeowners in
carry vector-borne illnesses like Lyme impacts caused by climate change. the Northeast, including on Cape Cod, in
disease and West Nile virus. Hotter recent years, the union reports.
summers will increase conditions such as
Q: Besides the MVP Program, what
other grants does the Common-
heat stress and heat stroke and exacerbate
lung conditions like asthma, bronchiectasis
and COPD. Climate change also reduces
wealth offer to help municipalities
prepare for or mitigate climate change?
Q: What is the Commonwealth doing
to get a handle on the causes of
climate change?
air quality, with higher temperatures
boosting allergens such as pollen as well A: Other forms of assistance include the
Department of Energy Resources’
Green Community Grants, which help
A: The Global Warming Solutions Act
of 2008 made Massachusetts a
as air pollutants such as ozone. national leader in the adoption of a
In Massachusetts, the MVP program’s cities and towns cut carbon emissions, and
comprehensive regulatory program to
Project Toolkit for cities and towns “pro- the Office of Coastal Zone Management’s
address climate change, according to the
vides guidance for understanding the Coastal Resilience Grants, which provide
Executive Office of Energy and Environ-
intersections between public health, the funds to coastal communities and eligible
mental Affairs. The law mandated that the
health care sector and climate change, nonprofit organizations to reduce risks
associated with coastal storms and sea state reduce greenhouse gas pollution by
as well as suggestions for developing 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and
projects with health-related co-benefits.” level rise impacts.
80 percent by 2050. Last April, to mark the
fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day, the
Q: If drought is an outcome of
climate change in Massachusetts, Q: How quickly are sea levels rising
and what’s at risk? Baker-Polito administration announced via
a formal determination letter a new legal
does this mean we should expect more
droughts, or more severe ones? How A: Boston’s Climate Ready Boston
Initiative finds that Boston Harbor
could experience sea level rise of as much
limit of net zero greenhouse gas emissions
by 2050. In December, the administration
does that affect the environment?
as eighteen inches by 2050 and as much released the Massachusetts 2050 Decar-
A: According to the Executive Office
of Energy and Environmental
Affairs, the frequency of droughts can
as three feet by 2070, compared with
2000 levels. The latter could expose more
bonization Roadmap Report and an interim
2030 Clean Energy and Climate Plan,
than 88,000 Boston residents to flooding which detail policies and strategies to
and cause approximately $1.39 billion in equitably and cost-effectively reduce
annualized losses from property damage, emissions and combat climate change. The
Compiled by Lisa Capone. Questions for
relocation costs and other expenses, plans set an interim 2030 statewide green-
Ask the Advocate may be sent to: Advocate
Editor, MMA, One Winthrop Square, according to a recent initiative report. house gas emissions target of 45 percent
Boston, MA 02110, or editor@mma.org. The Union of Concerned Scientists below 1990 levels.
MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2 7Berkshire Wind in Hancock is an example of a
clean energy project helping Massachusetts make
progress on greenhouse gas reduction goals.
(photo courtesy Executive Office of Energy and
Environmental Affairs)
MVP: Preparing the Commonwealth’s
By David Ismay
Communities for Climate Change
A
cross Massachusetts, from the Cape flooding. These events have real-world Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness
and Islands to the Berkshires and impacts. Residents and businesses face program, which provides grants and
every place in between, we are significant property damage, loss of critical technical assistance to support municipalities
increasingly facing climate change impacts infrastructure, gaps in public services, safety in preparing their residents, businesses and
like extreme temperatures, intense rain and risks, and, ultimately, lost economic value. infrastructure for future conditions that are
snow events, storm surges and coastal The Baker-Polito Administration is different and more extreme than those they
flooding, high winds, droughts, and inland committed to combating climate change were built to handle.
in a number of different ways, and a The MVP program is a community-led
David Ismay is Undersecretary of Climate key strategy is providing tools to process that makes local knowledge-
Change at the Executive Office of Energy communities to address concerns on the sharing and collaboration its cornerstone.
and Environmental Affairs. front line. One of those tools is the By providing funds for municipalities or
8 MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2A solar array in Westford is helping the
Commonwealth make progress on its
greenhouse gas reduction goals.
(photo courtesy Executive Office of
Energy and Environmental Affairs)
regional partnerships to conduct their thirty acres of salt marsh, which will • In the northwestern part of the state, the
own process, the result is a plan that is provide protection from storm surges. Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership’s
tailored to the cities and towns and their Forest Stewardship, Resilience and
values, and has the local buy-in needed to Community Partners Climate Adaptation Project was
make it work. The Mattapoisett project is just one awarded a $165,000 MVP action grant,
The town of Mattapoisett—a small example of climate action happening with the town of Williamstown in the
municipality on the South Coast that is across the state. This past September, the lead, to advance emerging ideas from
vulnerable to sea level rise, coastal administration announced an additional some of the nation’s leading experts on
flooding and extreme weather—is one of $11.1 million in funding from the MVP climate forestry adaptation and soil
the communities leading the way with program to support more than sixty cities carbon sequestration methods. The
proactive climate action through the MVP and towns in planning for climate change project team will synthesize these
program. Town officials have been strategies, fill in the gaps, and make a
and implementing priority resilience
assessing ways to increase their simple program for private landowners,
projects. The most recent funding round
community’s climate resiliency. Partnering town forest owners, consultant foresters
brought total state spending on climate
with the Mattapoisett Land Trust and the and harvesters to implement. This
change resilience to more than $40 million
Buzzards Bay Coalition, Mattapoisett was project bridges the divide between
to date. The administration recognizes that
awarded a planning grant through the climate mitigation and adaptation to
MVP program in 2017. After going climate change is here, and it’s time to
proactively respond, and strengthen our achieve multiple goals.
through its planning process, the group
identified a need to protect particularly communities in the process. • In the Greater Boston area, the town of
vulnerable land from development, and Municipalities across the state are Natick, working with fourteen area
proposed to purchase 120 acres of forest, stepping up to the challenge of proactively communities that are part of the Charles
streams, freshwater wetlands and coastal planning for climate change, and 89 River Climate Compact, will conduct a
salt marsh in the Pine Island Pond area. percent of Massachusetts communities regional project to develop a Charles
The group leveraged its planning grant are now partnering with the River watershed model. The initiative
work to apply for an action grant in 2019. Commonwealth through the MVP will produce much-needed technical
The MVP program provided a $960,000 program. Many are leading the way in information about where and when
grant to help pay for a conservation implementing innovative and regional precipitation-driven flood-risk in the
restriction to acquire and protect vulnerable projects that are building stronger and watershed is expected to be exacerbated
land, safeguarding wildlife and more than more resilient communities year-round. by climate change. The project will also
MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2 9MVP: PREPARING THE COMMONWEALTH’S COMMUNITIES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
bring consistency across watershed
communities in regards to how they are
planning and governing for expected
climate impacts. The municipalities
received an MVP action grant of
$264,000 to conduct this effort.
•
In the southeast, Lakeville,
Middleborough, Freetown, Rochester,
Taunton and New Bedford, supported
by an MVP action grant of $93,000,
are developing a comprehensive
management plan with actionable
strategies for coping with floodwater
issues throughout the Assawompset
Pond Complex, while also addressing
water supply and drought potential,
water quality, preservation of critical Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito visit the Assawompset Pond
habitat, and recreational access. The Complex, which received a $93,236 MVP grant—to the towns of Lakeville, Middleborough,
project will include a robust public Freetown and Rochester and the cities of Taunton and New Bedford—for a Watershed
engagement effort to reach populations Management and Climate Plan.
in each of the six participating (photo courtesy Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs)
communities.
Regional partnership projects such as 2022 (or June 30, 2023, for two-year ground measures to increase long-term
these, grounded in cross-sector grants). The MVP program website has a resilience, including natural approaches to
collaboration and forward-thinking list of regional coordinators available to minimize erosion and flooding problems.
innovation, are leading the way in assist cities and towns. In 2020, the program awarded nearly
advancing local resilience planning and $4 million to twenty-nine projects, bringing
In addition, the Massachusetts Office
action across the state. the total investment in Coastal Resilience
of Coastal Zone Management’s Coastal
Grants made under the Baker-Polito
Administration to more than $18.9 million.
The interactive CZM Grant Viewer map
To help the Commonwealth meet shows information about grants from CZM
and the Buzzards Bay and the Massachusetts
the ambitious emissions limit, Bays National Estuary programs.
Energy and Environmental Affairs More Work Ahead
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is
the first line of defense to reduce risks
undertook a large research effort, from climate change. Governor Charlie
Baker committed the Commonwealth to
analyzing pathways to cost net-zero emissions by 2050, a level the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
effectively and equitably achieve Change has determined is needed to
avoid the worst impacts of climate
net-zero in the next thirty years. change. After a period of public comment
last March, Energy and Environmental
Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides
While the MVP grant application Resilience Grant Program offers financial formally set the 2050 emissions limit at
process is currently closed, the Executive net-zero, which will be achieved by
and technical assistance to coastal
Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs reducing statewide greenhouse gas
communities and nonprofit organizations
anticipates releasing another round of MVP emissions by at least 85 percent by 2050
funding next spring to allow additional to address impacts from storms and climate
and offsetting remaining emissions by
municipalities to undertake the planning change along our coastline. Awards using carbon sequestration.
process and enable designated MVP advance local efforts to increase awareness To help the Commonwealth meet the
communities to initiate implementation of climate impacts, identify specific ambitious emissions limit, Energy and
projects between July 1, 2021, and June 30, vulnerabilities, and implement on-the- Environmental Affairs undertook a large
10 MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2research effort, analyzing pathways to
cost effectively and equitably achieve
net-zero in the next thirty years.
The agency’s long-range 2050
Decarbonization Roadmap Study, begun
in July of 2019, focuses on the
transformations that are needed in how
we heat our buildings, transport people
and goods, and generate and supply
electricity in order to significantly reduce
emissions. The study also assessed the
level of emissions that could be potentially
removed by 2050 from other sources,
such as the Commonwealth’s working
landscapes. Finally, the study analyzed
the economic and health impacts of
achieving net-zero emissions.
The 2050 Roadmap Study wrapped
up at the end of December with a
report synthesizing the vast findings in a
way that can guide climate policy
development for the next thirty years. It is
accompanied by several sector-specific
technical reports that will catalogue the Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen
methodology, assumptions and rationale, Theoharides (center) tour Springfield’s Forest Park Tree Nursery after the city received a
detailed findings, and information critical $315,000 MVP grant to perform an environmental assessment of its trees and develop a climate
for decarbonizing each major sector of resiliency plan. Also pictured are Sen. James Welch (right) and City Forester Alex Sherman (left).
our economy. (photo courtesy Springfield Mayor’s Office of Communications)
In addition to the 2050 Roadmap and the
companion technical reports, in December,
Secretary Theoharides set the emissions
limit for 2030 and the Executive Office of
Energy and Environmental Affairs released
a draft of the Clean Energy and Climate
Plan for 2030 to achieve that limit. The
2030 emissions limit and 2030 CECP are
both informed by the 2050 Roadmap
analyses and will help keep the
Commonwealth on track to meet the 2050
emissions limit. The draft 2030 CECP
provides details on the necessary strategies,
policies and actions to reduce emissions in
the next ten years and is available for public
comment for two months before finalization
in the spring of 2021.
These reports, along with the
implementation of the 2030 CECP and
the active planning for a net-zero
emissions future, further demonstrate the
Commonwealth’s commitment to
addressing climate change. While
adapting to the impacts of climate change
for today and tomorrow, we’re also
working to curb the long-term climate Williamstown and the Mohawk Trail Woodland Partnership received a $164,575 MVP Action
impacts. Together, these efforts are Grant in September to support the partnership’s Forest Stewardship, Resilience and Climate
building a resilient and sustainable Adaptation project.
Massachusetts. (photo by Leslie Reed-Evans)
MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2 11Statewide Network Thinks
Globally and Acts Locally
to Battle Climate Change
By Carol Oldham and Sarah Dooling
12 MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2M
unicipal officials are on For communities looking for ways to guide communities toward next steps that
the front lines of climate make an impact, the enormity of climate are both meaningful and doable.
change. No matter how change challenges can be daunting. The Online fact sheets help municipalities
dire the predictions, good news is that there are many local choose and implement various
how complicated the opportunities that both benefit the planet strategies—from local solar projects to
solutions, mayors, town and improve communities. MCAN’s writing a climate action plan that outlines
managers and other local officials are Local Clean Energy Toolkit narrows the a community-wide strategy to reduce
committed to keeping their communities possibilities to a manageable set of greenhouse emissions.
safe and livable for future generations. choices, helping city and town leaders
Cities and towns are preparing for and identify the best options for local actions Buying Clean Electricity
adapting to climate change impacts in their that contribute to a global difference. Community Choice Aggregation is
communities. They are also among the Before getting started, MCAN advises among those strategies, and one that the
most active entities fighting the local leaders and citizens to envision city of Lowell recently embraced. CCA is
many causes of climate change. In what they’d like their communities to essentially bulk buying for clean
Massachusetts, many cities and towns are look like in 2040 or 2050. Doing this electricity. It is a process by which
leading the way to lower greenhouse gas tends to conjure up many positive ideas, municipalities can “aggregate” and
emissions, taking steps that range from including communities that are greener, switch the electricity of households and
advocating for more energy-efficient cleaner, safer, more affordable and small businesses from basic electric
building codes to passing bylaws that walkable, and that support more good service provided by the public utility (in
enable local residents to easily and jobs and local businesses. With the Local Lowell’s case, National Grid) to cleaner
affordably purchase much more renewable Clean Energy Toolkit, municipalities energy provided by an independent
electricity than state law requires. figure out how to reach their goals, first electricity supplier the city selects
Through sixty-eight chapters assessing where they are on climate and through a competitive process.
representing 108 cities and towns sustainability so far. This exercise results Choosing CCA can significantly cut
statewide, the Massachusetts Climate in a municipal score of beginner, climate-change-causing pollution in a
Action Network partners with urban, intermediate or advanced, and helps community because it involves virtually
suburban and rural communities, and
facilitates municipal-level action and peer
learning that helps replicate successful
programs from one municipality to the
next. Massachusetts cities and towns are
showing what’s possible—to their
neighboring municipalities, the rest of
Massachusetts, the nation and the world.
The bonus is that efforts to mitigate
climate change lead to other benefits, like
cleaner air and water, more civically active
communities, and better public health.
Local Action
Many municipalities across Massachusetts
and the nation are taking bold action,
such as committing to become a “net
zero” (emissions) community by 2050 or
sooner, or to obtain 100 percent of their
electricity from renewable energy sources
by a certain date. Some, like Worcester,
have adopted resolutions declaring a
climate emergency, thereby committing
to making climate change a local priority.
Sarah Dooling is the Executive Director
of the Massachusetts Climate Action
Network and Carol Oldham is its former
Executive Director. Energy-efficient LED streetlights
MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2 13STATEWIDE NETWORK THINKS GLOBALLY AND ACTS LOCALLY TO BATTLE CLIMATE CHANGE
every household and business and doesn’t
require convincing people by going door
to door. Starting in 2014, an increasing
number of communities across
Massachusetts began opting for CCA
(also known as “municipal aggregation”)
as a tool to express their values and align
their electricity choices as a whole
community with their climate
commitments. CCA allows residents and
small businesses to seamlessly switch to
more renewable energy.
In 2018, the Lowell City Council
made a commitment to transition the city
to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.
When councilors looked at the state laws
intended to wean Massachusetts off fossil
fuel-fired electricity, they realized Lowell
needed to do more to live up to this
commitment. This is because the state
Renewable Portfolio Standard law will Electric vehicle charging stations
increase the amount of renewable energy
public utilities must supply to just 55
percent by 2050. and implement programs that live up to consumption. They included data on
After a presentation by MCAN to their goals. MCAN recognized Lowell’s natural gas leaks, which added 10 percent
introduce the idea of a CCA, Lowell leadership in March, presenting an to the town’s total emissions.
Sustainability Council Chair Jay Mason Outstanding Activism Award to Mayor Lexington’s inventory revealed that
and then-City Councillor John Leahy 66 percent of the town’s emissions were
Leahy, the Lowell Sustainability Council,
(now serving as mayor) did the math and
and 350MA of Greater Lowell, a group coming from buildings (only 2 percent
realized that, to meet their 2050
that is part of a statewide volunteer from municipal buildings), and almost a
commitment, Lowell’s aggregation
climate action network. third were attributable to industry. After
program would need to boost its clean
MCAN and Sustainable Lexington
energy by another 45 percent. In 2019,
Suburban Efforts Committee Chair Mark Sandeen
Leahy and the City Council approved this
Suburbs in Massachusetts are also taking presented the findings, the town decided
bold step, bringing Lowell to the front of
important steps. In Lexington, local clean on targets and actions, including adopting
the pack for this type of program in
energy planning led the town to create a a Community Choice Aggregation
Massachusetts and providing leadership
greenhouse gas inventory. The program as an alternative to Eversource
to other communities, including those
with higher income demographics such Sustainable Lexington Committee, a for resident and business electricity. They
also decided to write a plan for getting
the town to net zero.
MCAN’s fact sheet notes that
MCAN’s fact sheet notes that becoming becoming net zero means that a
net zero means that a “community gets “community gets as much electricity
from renewable sources as it uses.” Cities
as much electricity from renewable and towns that adopt this strategy
sources as it uses.” typically plan to reach the goal through a
combination of energy efficiency
improvements, local clean energy
as Brookline and Newton, both of which panel appointed by the Select Board, production, and purchasing of renewable
have also adopted a CCA. enlisted a seven-member team, including energy. Among the state’s net zero
Lowell’s action, which implemented a two volunteer interns, to conduct the pioneers is Amherst, which adopted a
plan to get 61 percent of electricity from inventory using 2012 as a base year. The zero-energy bylaw in 2017 and revised it
New England renewable energy sources committee collected emissions data in 2018. The bylaw requires that, with
(16 percent currently required by state related to the town’s total electricity and minor exceptions, all new town buildings
law, plus an additional 45 percent), has heat consumption, transportation, waste must produce as much energy as they use.
inspired other communities to think big disposal, and food production and “The Zero Energy Town Buildings
14 MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2Bylaw, which will be implemented as
part of Amherst’s next capital project, is
an essential part of meeting the town’s Americans spend 80 percent of
ambitious emissions reduction goals for
the town, residents, businesses and their time indoors, so how we build
institutions,” said Amherst District Five
Councilor Darcy Dumont, adding that buildings matters.
those goals, adopted by the Town Council
in November 2019, were proposed by the
town’s “new and very energetic Energy Massachusetts local officials who took efficiency officials comprised the bulk of
and Climate Action Committee” and call part in updating the International Energy more than 530 additional local officials
for reducing town emissions (from 2017 Conservation Code. The IECC is the who voted during 2019, electing to
levels) by 25 percent by 2025 and 50 model energy code for new buildings make the 2021 IECC approximately 10
percent by 2030, and to achieve carbon constructed in the United States and some percent more energy efficient for both
neutrality by 2050. parts of Europe and is typically adopted, residential and commercial buildings that
with few changes, as the Massachusetts follow the code.
Building a Network Energy Code. Americans spend 80 percent of their
MCAN’s support for actions such as Municipal officials across the country time indoors, so how we build buildings
Amherst’s net zero commitment and are eligible to vote on changes to the code matters. Once again, the Commonwealth’s
Lexington’s vote for municipal electricity every three years, but few have done so in cities and towns stepped up, showing
aggregation, involves helping advocates the past (only about 400 nationwide in leadership that will result in better schools,
with messaging, providing data and 2016). In 2019, MCAN made a concerted offices and other facilities for everyone.
resources, and—perhaps most importantly— effort to “get out the vote”—making sure Municipal leadership in Massachusetts
connecting them with like-minded sustainability coordinators, energy is inspiring. It’s the epitome of thinking
officials in other communities to share committee members, town planners and globally and acting locally, and the
ideas and best practices. others in Massachusetts’ 351 cities and latest and greatest example of
On a statewide basis, MCAN was towns knew how to register and make Massachusetts cities and towns leading
instrumental in November 2019 in their voices heard for the next IECC the way on climate for their peers around
substantially increasing the number of update. As a result, Massachusetts pro- the country.
Before resilience and sustainability were
buzzwords, VHB’s engineers, scientists,
planners, and designers were incorporating
these principles into every project: planning
communities, engineering infrastructure,
designing utilities, and creating stormwater
management systems. In short, we are
preparing for the unexpected and designing
for a better tomorrow.
We leverage the collective knowledge of
our passionate people to help you create
sustainable, resilient places to live, work,
and play.
www.vhb.com/massmunicipal Aberjona Flood Mitigation Program
Boston | Springfield | Watertown | Worcester Winchester, MA
MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2 15A Nor’easter in February 2013
caused serious erosion on Cape Cod,
including damage to this Dennis
shoreline. While erosion has always
been part of the Cape’s natural history,
climate change is exacerbating it.
(photo credit MA Office of Coastal
Zone Management)
Beach access points on
Cape Cod are vulnerable
to damage from erosion
caused by more frequent
and severe storms.
(photo courtesy
Cape Cod Commission)
16 MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2Especially Vulnerable
Cape Towns Act
Regionally on
Climate Change
S
By Lisa Capone
ea-level rise, stronger storm surges, While erosion has always been part of
worsening coastal erosion and more the Cape’s natural history, climate change
frequent storms are breeding concern in is exacerbating it. The Cape Cod Times
cities and towns across Massachusetts. reported in June that the rate of coastal
With a combined total of 560 miles of retreat around Eastham’s Coast Guard
coastline (when you include countless Beach is two to three times faster than it
inlets and many islands), the fifteen towns was a century ago, due to sea level rise.
that comprise Cape Cod view these Nauset Light Beach in Eastham and
indicators of climate change with Marconi Beach in Wellfleet were cited as
particular unease. other recent erosion hot spots, with
Spanning just a mile or so at its Nauset Light losing “about fifty feet of
narrowest point and jutting sixty-five beach over a four- or five-year stretch.”
miles into the Atlantic, the Cape has more Barnstable Town Manager Mark Ells
than its share of at-risk resources and calls climate change one of the most
infrastructure. And, with about a third of important issues facing local governments
its residents over age 65—more than today. “Addressing it calls for a
double the statewide percentage—the collaborative response from multiple
Cape’s population is more vulnerable, too. sectors, such as transportation, natural
(As noted by the U.S. Centers for Disease resource management, land use, and
Control and Prevention, “weather-related economic development,”he said.
events and natural disasters affect older Jenkins adds that, “These issues don’t
adults disproportionately, especially those respect municipal boundaries. They are
with … conditions that require extra issues that really call for intermunicipal,
assistance to leave an unsafe area and regional solutions.” She points to the Cape
recover from an event.”) Cod Commission as “a fantastic partner”
“We’re obviously at ground zero for in pooling ideas, research and resources as
the impacts of climate change,” says the Cape towns work toward resiliency.
Barnstable Planning and Development The 2019 OneCape Summit, the
Director Elizabeth Jenkins, noting that commission’s signature annual event,
the Cape’s reliance on tourism and its focused squarely on the impacts of climate
large seasonal population create change and the efforts of Cape Cod
additional challenges, such as keeping municipalities to prepare for, mitigate,
people informed about the impacts of and adapt to, and resist them. While climate
response to weather-related emergencies. resiliency has long been part of the regional
planning agency’s work, the commission’s
Lisa Capone is a freelance writer. emphasis on climate sharpened in 2019.
MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2 17ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE CAPE TOWNS ACT REGIONALLY ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Banding Together
Despite their reputation as independent
thinkers, there are many reasons Cape
Codders are working together on climate
change issues. The most obvious is their
unique shared geography, separated from
the rest of the state by the Cape Cod Canal.
“We spent a significant amount of
time addressing wastewater issues,” says
commission Executive Director Kristy
Senatori, referring to two years of work
by her group, all fifteen Cape Cod towns,
hundreds of stakeholders, and state and
federal partners, which produced a new
regional coastal water quality plan.
“Watersheds don’t follow municipal
boundaries. … The same thinking applies Dennis town officials and community partners identify areas at risk from climate change
to the coast.” impacts during a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness workshop hosted by the Cape Cod
Besides partnering with several towns Commission in 2019. Dennis is among several communities that partnered with the
on climate preparedness planning, the Commission’s in creating a climate resiliency plan needed to quality for state MVP grants.
commission recently completed Resilient (photo courtesy Cape Cod Commission)
Cape Cod, a three-year project funded by
the National Oceanographic and recently completed a regional greenhouse planning to identify climate change
Atmospheric Administration to develop a gas emissions inventory, the starting impacts and vulnerabilities and develop
public outreach program to investigate the point for town-level discussions about and prioritize strategies to address them.
environmental and socioeconomic effects how to reduce emissions that contribute Harwich completed the process with the
of local and regional coastal resilience to climate change, and initiated commission’s assistance in 2020.
strategies. The project included development of the first-ever Climate
development of the Cape Cod Coastal Action Plan for Cape Cod. Resilient Cape Cod
Planner, an online “decision support” tool “I think economies of scale are Towns on the Cape were already laying
that offers information on climate change important, and working with your the groundwork for the MVP program
hazards impacting the coastline, adaptation neighbors is critical,” Senatori says. when the state announced the initiative in
strategies to address them, and implications To that end, the Cape Cod Commission 2017. In 2016, the Resilient Cape Cod
for local infrastructure and ecosystems. provides common resources that each town project was one of six region-based
On a separate front, the commission can tap to explore possible climate strategies. proposals selected for funding by the
The commission’s work NOAA out of more than 130 received
through the state’s nationwide. With $780,000 in NOAA
Municipal Vulnerability Coastal Resilience Grant funding
Preparedness program is a (including a local in-kind match of more
prime example. (See story than $250,000) the commission and its
on page 8.) All fifteen partners embarked on a three-year effort
Cape Cod towns have that included economic research, a public
been designated as MVP engagement process, and development of
communities. the Cape Cod Coastal Planner to help
While some Cape towns select strategies to mitigate impacts
communities achieved to coastal resources and infrastructure.
MVP status independent The GIS-based tool integrates research
of the commission, seven on potential adaptation strategies for
pursued the process with Cape Cod municipalities and is designed
the commission’s support. to help decision-makers understand and
In 2019, the Cape Cod compare the relative environmental and
Commission, along with socioeconomic impacts of implementing
Cape Cod Commission staff demonstrate new planning and the Cape Cod Cooperative various strategies to address sea level
decision support tools during the OneCape Summit in July 2019, Extension, assisted the rise, storm surge and erosion.
which brought together more than three hundred local, state and towns of Barnstable, Barnstable partnered with the
federal leaders dedicated to protecting the region’s environment. Bourne, Dennis, Eastham, commission on the NOAA grant. Jenkins
(photo courtesy Cape Cod Commission) Truro and Wellfleet with says the first two years were spent
18 MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2building the program, and the town November as the town planner in Harwich, as town departments such as Police and
beta-tested the planner in year three. said the commission’s proven GIS Fire, the Council on Aging, and the
“One of the huge takeaways was mapping capabilities—previously harbormaster.
building a collective understanding of the employed to help support the region’s “We had such cross participation—folks
strategies that are out there and are water quality management plan (known as representing a variety of different entities
available,” says Jenkins, noting that the the Section 208 Update)—and familiarity that would be affected here in town,”
Cape Cod Coastal Planner takes an impact with the Cape’s municipalities were the Greenhalgh says. “It was an awesome day.”
such as coastal erosion and provides a key reasons why Harwich selected the The workshop resulted in identification
range of options the town could deploy. commission for MVP support. of Harwich’s biggest climate challenges
She says having “that menu of “One of the things down here on the and a number of ideas to address them.
strategies and talking about the benefits Cape is, yes, we are individual towns, but With the meeting being held six months
and costs of each of them can [lead to] we really do look to our neighbors to make after two tornadoes touched down on Cape
really complicated conversations.” sure we are all working together toward Cod (including one in Harwich), causing
Ultimately, however, evaluating options the same goal,” says Greenhalgh, who approximately $3.7 million in damage,
leads to better decision-making, with retired at the end of November after Greenhalgh says those storms and the
solutions tailored to specific marshes, working as a town planner on the Cape for resulting destruction were still fresh on the
beaches and other resources. thirty-three years, in Chatham, Dennis and minds of participants and prompted
Barnstable is applying for MVP Truro, as well as Harwich. “Working with recommendations for better communication
funding to finance implementation of the commission was important to that.” in times of natural disasters.
some of its selected solutions, such as In late January 2020, the commission Other identified priorities included the
tactics to fix low-lying transportation helped the town of Harwich with a need for work on jetties that protect
infrastructure and upgrade culverts. community workshop to understand how Harwich’s harbors and, like Barnstable,
While the Cape Cod Coastal Planner the town is affected by natural hazards and replacement of inadequate culverts to allow
pilot involved just Barnstable, Senatori a changing climate and to develop a more water flow and flushing during storms.
notes that all Cape Cod towns are covered resiliency plan for MVP designation. Following the creation of a draft
by the tool and “every strategy in there Attendees included representatives from resiliency plan for Harwich, the commission
could be deployed at a variety of scales.” retailers, banks, marinas, and local health
Charleen Greenhalgh, who retired last care and assisted living facilities, as well continued on page 32
MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2 19Municipalities on
the Frontline of
Climate Change:
What COVID-19 Has
Taught Us About Resiliency
By Moneer Azzam and
Julie Smith-Galvin
T
he COVID-19 pandemic, over local tax receipts and the future of route will spare them from being on the
initially considered a state aid, which are straining budgets frontline, but it will change what that
temporary pause in regular required to provide critical services made frontline looks like for them and their
activities, clearly has changed all the more important by the crisis. And global neighbors. Unlike the COVID-19
life dramatically for they are doing all this while continuing situation—where we are beholden to
municipalities. Municipal routine business from a city or town hall multinational epidemiology tracking and
employees and elected officials can that is not completely open and staffed, centralized testing and vaccine
scarcely recall their old normal. They are with evenings filled with meetings infrastructure—actionable, climate-friendly
too busy setting up coronavirus tracking migrated to video conferencing. measures abound at the local level.
systems, securing and distributing PPE, Against this backdrop, some may
enforcing new rules for businesses and think it ludicrous to add climate change Climate Response Underway
parks, collecting and sharing data with preparation to the backs of municipal Municipalities are not starting at zero. In
the state, ensuring the most vulnerable officials. Yet the COVID-19 crisis has fact, many communities across
get food and other basic needs, negotiating proven that resiliency starts at the Massachusetts have been undertaking
delayed tax and water bills, and working hyperlocal level. When everyone is exercises as part of the Municipal
to fit state and federal guidance with local home, because of a pandemic, flood or Vulnerability Preparedness program,
conditions. Meanwhile, they are fretting nor’easter, it falls to municipalities to which was launched in 2017. Reaching
manage safety, basic services and out to a cross section of town and city
Moneer Azzam is principal of Beacon recovery. This pandemic drives home the governments, services, businesses,
Climate Innovations and the founder and fact that while climate change may be a utilities and residents, MVP advisors are
former CEO of SolarOne Solutions. Julie
global challenge, municipalities are truly building awareness of the various threats
Smith-Galvin is the founder and owner
of JSG Communications and Vice Chair on its frontline. associated with climate change and
of the Wakefield Town Council. Both are Municipalities can take action and make assessing
The “Salemappropriate
for All response measures.
members of the Greentown Labs Commu- decisions that mitigate climate impacts, or In Massachusetts,
Ages Resource Guide”theismajor threats
mailed to are
nity in Somerville. they can set it on the back burner. Neither grouped into on
city residents four categories: drought,
their sixtieth birthday.
20 MUNICIPAL ADVOCATE Vol. 30, No. 2You can also read
