Westford Climate Action has scheduled a meeting with Jim Arciero, our State Representative, and Joan Meschino, (D) Hull who will be giving a presentation on Zoom on the new Next Generation Road Map and what it will mean for towns like Westford. Joan was one of the authors of the first Road Map and an excellent presenter if you haven’t heard her before. PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF PASSWORD.
Meeting is Tuesday, May 25 from 6 to 7 pm
PASSWORD is Climate
Here are the questions that WCA has asked Jim to address:
1. Will the new law require actions to be taken at the municipal and residential level? If so, what actions, and when?
2. Does the new law require or encourage the development of municipal Net Zero Roadmaps? If so, will the state provide any added resources and assistance to towns to prepare actionable plans?
3. How does the new law encourage homeowners to adopt clean technology? There will be resistance to cost and change.
4. How does the law address the likely dislocation of jobs in the local fossil fuel industry such as fuel distribution, heating oil, gas stations, etc?
5. Does the new law mandate tracking, reporting and reduction of GHG emissions at the municipal level? If so, to what depth, and how often?
6. Does the new law enhance incentives for adoption of residential and industrial heat pumps in existing buildings? If so, to what extent, and how and when will the new incentives be available?
7. Does the new law mandate the creation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at the municipal level? If so, is there any additional state funding for implementation?
8. Does the new law permit and encourage local municipalities to establish net-zero energy by-laws for the construction of new buildings including residential and industrial?
9. Is there any consideration for a carbon tax as part of the State net zero roadmap? For instance, customers may not choose heat pumps over a gas furnace if gas is cheaper and a known solution. Carbon tax would add ‘true cost’ to fossil fuel to make the heat pump option more competitive.
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