TOWN ENERGY COMMITTEE TO LAUNCH COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECT AT TOWN BLOCK PARTY

Over the next several weeks, the Energy and Climate Action Committee (ECAC) of the Town Council will undertake an outreach campaign to assess attitudes of different constituencies in town regarding the town’s possible climate action goals and to get a sense of the general state of knowledge around town regarding the ongoing climate emergency.  ECAC’s goals are slated to be formally set and presented to the Town Council in mid-November. (read the full charge for the ECAC  here).

The committee will consider responses from this outreach in framing its goals and the goals for the town. 

The goals of the outreach project are to: 

• Understand the general state of environmental/climate knowledge among town constituencies.
• Understand the barriers and opportunities facing Amherst regarding climate and energy and build in solutions that support a just transition to a carbon neutral Amherst.
• Raise awareness about the effectiveness of local climate action and build support and excitement for actions and goals

• Identify willing partners with helpful expertise who can contribute to the committee’s broad, aspirational and motivating goals, such as reducing our carbon emissions by 60% by 2030. 

Current state law calls for an 80% reduction below 1990 GHG emissions by 2050. ECAC hopes to embrace an ambitious agenda which would establish Amherst as a leader in energy/climate policy. They believe that Amherst can do better than the state standard and would like to know what residents and business people would like to strive for and when the whole town should be carbon neutral.

Block Party

The committee will begin its outreach work with a table at the town block party on September 19 (5-9 PM in downtown Amherst).   At the table, people will have the opportunity to take a brief survey about climate priorities and to speak with members of the committee about their understandings and concerns as well as ask questions about the work of the committee.  

Interviews

Following the block party, members of the committee will engage in directed interviews with a few members each of the following constituencies: homeowners, renters,  moderate/low income residents, municipal officials, municipal committees and boards, schools, BID/Chamber of Commerce, landlords and property managers, real estate developers,  and farms. The small sample of interviews (3-4 conducted by each committee member) are not intended to be a representative sample but rather to be reflective of different views present within the community and a starting point for taking the pulse of the community.   They will allow the committee to get deeper than can be done through casual conversation alone.

Public Forums

Residents will have another opportunity to give ECAC feedback in October at two public forums,  one on Thursday October 3 and one on Saturday October 5 with time and locations to be announced..  Refreshments and childcare will be provided  

Final Report

The committee will review the compiled data from its outreach,  use it in finalizing their goals and issue a report to the Town Council in advance of  their November 18 meeting.