Opinion: Two Big Boosts To Climate Action in Amherst

Local and Greene

A version of the following column also appeared in the Amherst Bulletin. 

This month there’s a whole lot happening on the climate action front in Amherst, most notably, 1) a unanimous vote by the Town Council requesting action by the Town Manager on the current Waste Reduction Bylaw proposal and 2) resident information sessions about the launch of Valley Green Energy, our new, green regional electricity program

Waste Reducation Efforts
A very exciting boost to our climate action was the Town Council decisively moving the Waste Reduction Bylaw Proposal (originally proposed by Zero Waste Amherst) forward. This proposal would very significantly reduce our waste (by more than 40%), by incentivizing waste reduction with a pay-as-you-throw fee structure and by diverting compostable materials from the trash. This would be required by changing to a town contract with the hauler or haulers, obtained through a competitive bidding process.

The Town Services and Outreach Committee of the Town Council had unanimously recommended that the full Town Council advise the Town Manager to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to local haulers. The RFP would give us hard, real-time cost estimates for a menu of required and optional services so that we can move to implementation. 

On Monday, September 9, the Council followed the TSO’s recommendation with a unanimous vote, adding a list of key elements needed in the RFP, including that the town would negotiate and contract with a waste hauler or haulers on behalf of residents for collection of household trash, unlimited recyclables, and compostables. The contract would include a robust pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) fee structure; curbside composting would be made available to all residents; the town’s transfer station could remain open but its role in the waste management program is yet to be determined; the program would be phased in beginning with single family and 2-, 3-, and 4-unit properties, expanding to all residential properties within 3 years. Haulers must provide an annual report to the town on the weight, in tons, of trash, recyclables, and compostables collected within the town; and an advantage in awarding a contract would be given to haulers who dispose of compost locally.

Leading the charge were Councilors George Ryan, Andy Steinberg and Jennifer Taub. Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke provided the list of elements she desired in a substitute motion. Superintendent of Public Works Guilford Mooring was present and offered background data regarding the RFP process and how it works. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Western Mass Municipal Assistance Coordinator Susan Waite offered robust support at the previous TSO meeting, stating that this is the wave of the future. The vast majority of the written and live public comments were favorable to the proposal.

Here’s hoping the proposal can pick up speed and momentum as it moves to implementation.

Valley Green Energy Electricity Information Sessions
Another exciting climate action development is that Valley Green Energy (VGE), a joint municipal electricity aggregation among Amherst, Northampton and Pelham is set to launch on November 1. It is the single most impactful climate action the town can take to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the renewable energy content in our electricity supply. This is according to our Climate Action Adaptation and Resilience Plan. 

And it’s local! All of the voluntary renewable electricity purchased through Valley Green Energy comes from MA Class I renewable energy certificates (RECs) and is from the New England region! Purchasing MA Class I RECs helps to create demand for new renewable energy projects on the New England grid. By purchasing more MA Class I RECs than is required by state law, you can help to drive the development of new renewable energy projects in our region.

So far, the town has provided three information sessions to answer questions about VGE.  The remaining session is on September 26, 7 p.m.  on Zoom.

Recordings are available of some of the information sessions that residents can watch and share with their organizations, including the presentation to the Town of Amherst Energy and Climate Action Committee meeting, (at 55 minutes) with Mass Power Choice, and the NEPM Radio Show “The Fabulous 413” (88.5 FM), Monte Bel Monte with Ben Weil and Stephanie Ciccarello, and a Local Energy Advocates presentation with Ben Weil.

Our Town of Amherst consultant, MassPowerChoice, has been great at answering individual questions about the program on the VGE website ValleyGreenEnergy.org or at the VGE customer support number at 1-844-202-6033.

These offerings would be resources not only to research but to share with your organizations in your newsletters and listservs soon. 

Some folks may not have gotten notice about Valley Green Energy because they have third party electricity suppliers. They won’t want to miss out on this opportunity to join our community effort to become more sustainable. If they didn’t get a notice, they can still opt in here.

And if they want to opt up to 100% renewable energy, they can opt up here.

Again, Amherst now has two fantastic climate action programs on their way to implementation in Amherst. Let’s support them in whatever way we can!

Darcy DuMont is a former town councilor and sponsor of the legislation creating the Amherst Energy and Climate Action Committee. She is a founding member of Zero Waste Amherst, Local Energy Advocates of Western MA, and the Amherst Climate Justice Alliance and a non-voting member of Valley Green Energy Working Group. She can be contacted at dumint140@gmail.com.