 A Livable Future: How Can Massachusetts Lead on Climate?
Register for the Nov 14th at 7pm event here.  Experts share information on:
This event is presented by Abode Energy Management in partnership with Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP). Abode strives to support Municipal Light Plant customers in their adoption of clean heating and cooling technologies. NEEP is one of six Regional Energy Efficiency Organizations (REEOs) funded, in part, by US Department of Energy to support state efficiency policies and programs. To Register for the Event, click here.  Tomorrow from 7-8pm you are invited to be part of a six-part series on Home Electrification where homeowners can take steps to get their homes off of fossil fuels through electrification.
This is important as 56% of Wellesley's greenhouse gas comes from buildings and of that 58% of that is residential. Kate Stephenson, HELM Construction Solutions and Aaron Gunderson, Passive House Massachusetts will lead us through how to assess opportunities for electrification, and calculate your home’s annual energy use. This event is free and open to the public via Zoom. Register here. Wellesley’s Water: Town seeks solutions to address high levels of PFAS in key water source10/24/2021
 What will Wellesley do about PFAS in our water? What is the most prudent course of action?
This is a good time to educate yourself about where the water that runs throughout your home -- from your kitchen tap to outdoor hoses -- originates. Currently, Wellesley’s municipal water supply comes from 10 town wells and from the regional Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). There are four wells near Morses Pond which represent about half of the water the town uses. Last spring, during mandated testing, Wellesley Department of Public Works (DPW) found that our Morses Pond well exceeded the Department of Environmental Protection (EPA) maximum allowable levels of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). Wellesley’s DPW swiftly moved to turn off that source and worked with a consultant to shape a plan for short- and long-term water safety. Why the concern? PFAS is also known as “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly and are linked to cancer, kidney and liver problems, birth defects, and more. This week, Wellesley Special Town Meeting will debate and vote on whether the DPW can borrow $1.5 million through the Water Enterprise Fund for an interim solution and $5.3 million for a long-term solution to address the PFAS issue at the Morses Pond Water Treatment Plant. The ARTICLE: 6, MOTION: 1 is on page 8 here. These funds would be allocated to a specific solution. Here is the dilemma: Some residents in town (an infectious disease physician, PhD organic chemist, PhD and pesticide expert among others) have questioned whether the proposed granular activated carbon remediation system will sufficiently remediate all pollutants and have urged the town to start converting toward a cleaner water supply from the MWRA, which is sourced from the protected Quabbin Reservoir. One strong argument for this approach is that Welleslley's aquifer is surrounded by dense development and roadways adding to our groundwater contamination. However, it would take at least 3 years to add a second connection and increase present connectivity to the MWRA. What would we do in the meantime? The DPW has been thoughtful about this issue and has noted reasons why it may be prudent to continue to have more than one source of water. They also have noted the supply constraints caused by having the Morses Pond well offline, and expressed those constraints as part of the desire and goal to bring the Morses Pond well back on line using the interim solution noted above. Some suggest waiting until the next Town Meeting to allow time for more public discourse, and recommendations from State and Federal officials (the State is due to come out with comments before the end of the year, and the EPA is working to set enforceable drinking water limits and will work to regulate PFAS). One concern about waiting to decide on this issue is it may create a time lag on implementation of a solution, and possibly put Wellesley further back in the line as other towns and cities move quickly to remediate their water supplies. To learn more about PFAS read here from the EPA and watch this video clip from the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA). Be mindful that this is not just a cost issue (cost of MWRA water vs. cost of Wellesley’s water) but a health and safety issue. Actions for you:
Sustainable Wellesley encourages sustainable actions to protect our climate; reduce pollution of air, land and water; preserve biodiversity; minimize waste; and ensure environmental justice.  The Town is developing a Climate Action Plan that will provide a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and enhancing our resilience to climate change.
Give input on the Climate Action Plan design and priorities by taking a 5-minute confidential survey. Your responses will help the Climate Action Committee develop climate change mitigation programs in the areas of energy, buildings, mobility, and waste. The Climate Action Plan supports GHG reduction goals established by Annual Town Meeting in 2009 and revised in 2021. These goals align with state and federal targets and call for net zero town-wide emissions by 2050, a 75% reduction below 2007 levels by 2040, and a 50% reduction by 2030. Access the survey online here and additional Info is here. Thank you for participating! Climate & SustainabilIty Roundtable Monday 6-7pm With Our Congressman & Senator - You are Invited10/16/2021
 Monday night you are invited to be part of a CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY ROUNDTABLE from 6-7PM with our Congressman Jake Auchinclosss and Senator Cindy Creem. Watch it here https://www.facebook.com/senatorcindycreem
 Tomorrow is Marathon Monday!
Julie and Maggie have been training long and hard for the Boston Marathon. We are grateful they have chosen to run in support of Sustainable Wellesley. The funds they raise will help Sustainable Wellesley with community outreach and educational programs that will further elevate the awareness of Wellesley's net-zero greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal, and actions we can all do to help us meet that goal. They are so close to their fundraising goal. Please help them reach it by donating here. Give them a shout out as they come by! They will ❤️ that!! You can track them here. Julie is #18319 and Maggie is #18541. Please consider donating today. Thank you!  We are thrilled to have Julie Moore and Maggie Mulshine running the 125th Boston Marathon in support of Sustainable Wellesley. Julie, running her 25th marathon, has been training with and mentoring Maggie, who is running her first marathon. These two passionate runners are stepping up and we hope you can too.
Please consider donating. The funds raised will help Sustainable Wellesley increase community outreach and educational programs, as it partners with local organizations and government on climate action initiatives. Julie and Maggie have chosen to run in support of Sustainable Wellesley in an effort to elevate the awareness of Wellesley's net-zero greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal and actions we can all do to help us meet that goal. Help them reach their fundraising finish line by donating here. Thank you!  You are invited for a Wellesley Green Schools get together on Tuesday, October 19th from 10am to 11:30am at 76 Cleveland Rd (between Weston and Westgate).
Wellesley Green Schools is collaborative group of caregivers, students and staff working together to reduce Wellesley schools' ecological footprints, and inspire students to create a healthy sustainable world. We hope to meet outside so dress warmly while enjoying hot cider on the deck with blankets. If need be, we will go inside masked. Topics include:
 Thanks to those that organized, shared their cars and came out to the EV Showcase on Sunday! The amount of folks at last week's National Drive Electric Week events showed how much interest our community has about driving electric.
Sharon's presentation on what got her to buy -- and now LOVE -- an electric car was recorded so you can watch it here. Give a listen, you will like her really accessible approach. The resources she referenced are listed below. Vehicle comparisons, performance data, and environmental impacts; information on federal tax credits, U.S. Dept. of Energy. Vehicle cost calculator, Alternative Fuels Data Center, US Dept. of Energy. Compare Electric Cars: EV Range, Specs, Pricing & More, Inside EVs. Massachusetts offers rebates for electric vehicles (MOR-EV) program, state of Massachusetts. Wellesley Drives Electric has local incentive information and provides 1-on-1 support for all things EV related. Try this “shopping assistant”: Plugstar PlugShare has a map of over 440000 electric vehicle charging stations so you can find one wherever you need to go! Also offers charging tips, reviews and photos from the EV community. VIDEOS: Benefits of Electric Vehicles (EVs), Duke Energy, February 17, 2019. Electric Vehicle Benefits Explained, Union of Concerned Scientists, February 10, 2021. ARTICLES: 12 Best-Selling Electric Vehicles of 2021 (So Far), Car and Driver, July 19, 2021. Best Electric Cars of 2021 and 2022, Edmunds. EV vs. Gas: Which Cars Are Cheaper to Own?, Car and Driver, May 22, 2020. CHARGING APPs, LOCATING CHARGERS: PlugShare Chargepoint ElectrifyAmerica Tesla for Apple and for Android Email info@sustainablewellesley.com to share your electric vehicle story as well because #climatematters and there are #thingsyoucando. |
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