Energy & Sustainable Development CommitteeThe 495/MetroWest Partnership's Energy and Sustainable Development Committee focuses on issues related to land use, energy, brownfields remediation, low-impact development, broadband connectivity, placemaking, and environmental stewardship.
Recent Meetings & Events
2022 Climate Legislation Presentation: On Tuesday, October 18th, 2022, the Energy and Sustainable Development Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership will host a special presentation from State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy of Franklin, who serves as House Chairperson of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. The presentation focused on An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind, major climate legislation passed and signed into law in August 2022. The bill contained significant provisions related to clean energy investment, offshore wind, electric vehicles, and more.
PACE Program Presentation: On February 15th, 2022, the Energy and Sustainable Development Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted representatives from MassDevelopment to present on the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. PACE is a new mechanism to finance energy improvements, such as energy-efficiency projects, renewables, and gas line extensions, on commercial and industrial properties in Massachusetts. Click here to access the slide presentation from the event. To finance improvements, a property owner agrees to a betterment assessment on their property, which repays the financing. This approach enables owners to undertake more comprehensive energy upgrades with longer payback periods of up to 20 years. At property sale, the lien stays with the property and is transferred to subsequent property owners. Properties eligible for financing through PACE include commercial buildings, industrial buildings, and multi-family buildings with five or more units. Individual municipalities may opt into PACE one time by a majority vote of the city or town council or the board of selectmen, as appropriate. For more information on the PACE program, click here.
Climate Legislation Presentation with Secretary Theoharides: On May 18th, 2021, the Water Resources and Energy and Sustainable Development Committees of the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted a special presentation from Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen A. Theoharides on An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy, major climate legislation signed into law earlier this year. Click here to view a recording of the session with Secretary Theoharides. The legislation, signed into law by Governor Baker in March, codifies a commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions in 2050, establishes new interim goals for emissions reductions, authorizes the Administration to implement a new, voluntary energy efficient building code for municipalities, and allows the Commonwealth to procure an additional 2,400 Megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2027, among other provisions. Municipal Government Response to COVID-19 in 495/MetroWest: On February 9th, 2021, the Energy and Sustainable Development Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted a special forum as part of its series on the impact of COVID-19 on our region, "Municipal Government Response to COVID-19 in 495/MetroWest." This panel discussion focused on how municipal governments across our region have responded to the pandemic. You can view a recording of the discussion online at this link. Our panel included:
Business Response to COVID-19 in 495/MetroWest: On December 9th, 2020, the Energy and Sustainable Development Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership hosted a special forum as part of its series on the impact of COVID-19 on economic development, "Business Response to COVID-19 in 495/MetroWest." This discussion focused on how different economic sectors in our region have responded to the pandemic. You can view a recording of the discussion online at this link. Our panel included:
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