Sustainable Belmont Climate Action Plan

Happy fall, everyone!

And a busy one it has been. We’re pleased to announce that the Belmont Board of Selectmen adopted Belmont’s Climate Action Plan on October 5 and agreed to constitute and appoint a Town Energy Committee to work with the entire community to reduce carbon emissions produced primarily by powering, heating and cooling our buildings and vehicles. Town Meeting members will have the opportunity to vote on a similar resolution. Please let the town meeting members that represent you know your feelings on them adopting this resolution. Please see the climate action plan working group report for more information.

November also brings the annual Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN) conference to be held at MIT. The all-day conference on Sunday, Nov. 15, has a great line-up of speakers, workshops and great food. And this year, there is special pricing for students. See the MCAN update below for more details and information on carpooling to the conference or register online at www.massclimateaction.org

Please join us for our monthly meeting this Wed., Nov. 4, at 7pm in the Flett Room at the Belmont Public Library. Dr. Peter McCullough, a Belmont resident, will speak on lessons learned from having photovoltaic panels professionally installed on his home. It should be an interesting discussion for anyone considering solar panels.

And mark your calendars now for our Dec. 2 meeting when we will have a guest speaker presenting on toxins in the home and nontoxic household cleaning alternatives.

Thank you to Anna Churchill and Brian Curtis for writing the Nov/Dec. Watt’s Up newsletter Energy Savings tip, coming soon to your mailboxes with your electric bill. The timely topic discusses ways to save energy and money during the holiday season.

Meanwhile, here’s hoping that you’ll find time to enjoy the fine fall season and all that it has to offer.

Cheers,

Jan and John

1. Sustainable Belmont (SB) Nov. 4 meeting agenda
2. Working groups update
3. MCAN update
4. Announcements/upcoming events
5. Oct. meeting minutes (see attached)

1.     Sustainable Belmont Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, Nov. 4

7pm – 9pm

Flett Room, Belmont Public Library

336 Concord Avenue

7pm  welcome and introductions

7:05   Nov. 15  MCAN conference and carpooling

7:10   announcements

7:15   Guest speaker Dr. Peter McCullough
“Why I have solar panels and you will too”

8:15   small working group breakout sessions

9pm   Adjourn

2. Working group reports.

Cleaning the Air (anti idling) Campaign:

* We met with new Belmont Public Schools superintendent Dr. George Entwistle and he was generally supportive of the campaign. His recommendations were to work with the school PTAs.  He also supported biking to school.

* The Chief of Police sent another great letter to all parents reminding them of safe practices getting to school including not idling I’ll look for a copy of the letter and send it to you. Read the letter: http://www.belmont.k12.ma.us/uploads/docs/town/ChiefsSchoolLetter2009.pdf
Notes submitted by Jeri Weiss and Deb Lockett

Climate Action:

* About 30 people were in attendance as the Belmont Board of Selectmen (BOS) voted to endorse the Climate Action Plan. The vote was 2-1, with Selectman Firenze opposing. The resolution that was passed requires the Board of Selectmen to create and appoint an Energy Committee, with representation from Belmont residents, businessowners and institutions (such as houses of worship and private schools and hospitals) and Town employees, to work with the entire community toward the goal of reducing carbon emissions 80% by 2050. A similar resolution is on the Fall Town Meeting warrant. The resolution that the BOS passed as well as a revised draft of the CAP that includes community input from the four-month vetting process held this past spring and summer, can be found at www.sustainblebelmont.net.  The CAP will also soon be posted on the town website, under the SB area (see town committees and then subcommittees).

* We participated in International Day of Climate Action on Saturday, Oct. 24. Members of SB worked with the First Church Social Action Committee to organize an event held outside the First Church from 12:45pm to 1:30pm to mark the day. About 50 people of all ages participated. After the rally, about 12 people carpooled to Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord to join with people from 39 other Metro West communities to ask government officials and elected reps. to negotiate a fair, binding and bold agreement at Copenhagen in Dec. that would substantially commit countries to work at curbing carbon emissions. More than 600 people attended the Concord rally and more than 5,000 similar events were held around the world on that day. For more information, visit www.350.org.  Thanks to Priscilla Cobb, Doug Massidda and Deb Lockett from the First Church for their part in helping to organize the Belmont event. Notes submitted by Jan Kruse.

3. Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN) update:

Register now to attend the all-day annual MCAN conference on Sunday, Nov. 15, from 9am – 4:30 pm. People who wish to carpool should meet at the Belmont Public Library at 8:15am (please park on the street). All are welcome! The all-day conference, including a light breakfast and lunch, is $60 ($50 for MCAN members). New this year: students may attend for $25. Keynote speakers will include Gina McCarthy, asst. administrator of the Office of Air And Radiation at the US. EPA. Also more than 15 workshops on a variety of climate change and sustainability related topics. For more information or to register online, please visit www.massclimateaction.org.

4. Announcements / upcoming environmental events

*  Belmont Freecycle hits a milestone: Warren Croce informs us that 200 people are signed up for Belmont’s Freecycle network. This free “virtual swap meet” helps keep goods out of the landfill and is an excellent way to find homes for items you no longer need or want or to find or request free items you are seeking. There is no cost to join. Sign up or see what’s available at: http://freecycle.org/group/United%20States/Massachusetts/Belmont

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2-4pm (rain or shine), A Guided Ecological Walking Tour of the Gardens at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Sponsored by the Ecological Landscaping Association (ELA) $10 ELA member; $15 non-member. Walk-ins welcome. Register: https://www.eventville.com/catalog/eventregistration1.asp?eventid=1006114

For more info., email ela.info@comcast.net