Staycation is a new program of the Belmont Citizens Forum to encourage residents to discover new activities right here at home (and avoid vacation air travel). Please, take the 5-minute Staycation survey to help with our research on how Belmont residents plan vacations. We at BCF hope to learn a lot this year so we can spread the word during vacation planning …
Carbon and Climate
building energy, divestment, emissions data, personal footprint, preparing for climate change, reducing emissions in ma, science and goals
Outcome on the Energy Bill
It’s a very solid bill, although we couldn’t do everything that people urged us to do.
SREC II Emergency Extension
On Friday, April 8th, 2016 DOER announced emergency regulations to extend SREC II. SREC II was the second solar incentive program created by the state to support the installation of solar projects in the state from 400MW to 1,600MW of installed capacity. The cap of 1,600MW of approved projects was hit in early March. Please see the email from DOER …
2016 Solar Net Metering Legislation
Comment from Will Brownsberger The chart Andrew has prepared below summarizes the status of incentives for different kinds of solar projects under the legislation that we approved yesterday. It is not an attractive package from the perspective of the solar industry. Small residential projects continue to receive the full retail net metering credit (in private …
Planning for more flooding
Climate change is creating more rainfall and higher sea levels, both of which will contribute to more flooding in our neighborhoods. We have a couple of decades before the problems really come home, but the lead times are long for major projects. Understanding the risks and building regional momentum to respond will remain a continuing priority of mine over the years to come.
Should Will support S.2092?
I am asked by the Union of Concerned Scientists to urge my State Senator to support S.2092, a measure to prepare/protect/ Massachusetts for/from global warming. “The Massachusetts Senate will soon vote on a bill requiring Governor Charlie Baker and future administrations to develop comprehensive plans to guide the Bay State as it prepares for more …