Key to Climate Action Plan's Success is Community Involvement

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The Climate Action Planning Committee provided an update recently to the Select Board on its Climate Action Plan, outlining potential actions at next spring's Annual Town Meeting.

The CAPC is focusing on six areas -- natural resources, energy, buildings, community, waste, and transportation, with detailed recommendations included within each category.
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The goal is for Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant to lead on energy decarbonization as it relates to renewable energy, system upgrades, and reliability and resiliency.

Potential items that may be raised at Town Meeting 2023 include potential funding for initiatives identified in the final Climate Action Plan, establishing a citizens group to implement the plan, and establishing limits on new natural gas hook-ups and on new oil heat boilers to encourage electric heat pump transition, among others.

The report explains that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 "is a treasure trove to assist Hingham in meeting its Net Zero goals, offering lucrative incentives."

The draft plan will be reviewed at a public meeting in January 2023. Continued involvement by the public is key to the plan's success.

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