Climate & Energy Plan

Council Approves Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases & Prepare for Impact of Climate Change

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The Climate & Energy Plan approved by the City Council on Tuesday has multiple goals, including reducing the use of fossil fuels, increasing the number of electric vehicles, cutting the amount of waste created in Watertown, and preparing the City and residents for the impact of severe weather. The City has been working on the plan since March 2021, and formed a 35-member Stakeholder Advisory Group, working groups, conducted two surveys, and held meetings to discuss the five areas of the plan: Building & Energy, Transportation & Mobility, Natural Resources, Infrastructure & Waste Management, and Public Health & Community Preparedness. One of the major goals of the plan calls for making the City of Watertown carbon neutral by 2050, said Ed Lewis, Watertown’s Energy Manager. “Buildings are the biggest (contributor), the fat rabbit in this: 56 percent of gas comes from buildings,” Lewis said. “Transportation accounts for a little over 40 percent.” 

The plan calls for cutting all heating of homes and buildings by oil or natural gas to zero percent by 2050.

Climate & Energy Plan

Resident Comments Wanted on Watertown Draft Climate & Energy Plan

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A draft of the Watertown Climate and Energy Plan has been released and City officials seek input from the public about the document. The plan has been titled “Resilient Watertown,” and it details the City’s strategies to address climate change. The plan is the product of meetings, workshops and surveys, according to the introduction by Acting City Manager Tom Tracy. The City Council’s statement reads, in part: “The Plan identifies opportunities for lasting improvements here in Watertown, by reducing climate change-causing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants and improving quality of life for all residents in the face of extreme events and prolonged stressors.” The plan seeks to help the City prepare for the impact of severe weather events.

Around Town

Public Invited to Give Input on Watertown Climate & Energy Plan

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The Resilient Watertown Stakeholder Advisory Group Holding sent out the following announcement about its second meeting on the Watertown Climate and Energy Plan Update. The Resilient Watertown Stakeholder Advisory Group (RWSAG) Meeting #2 will be held on Tuesday, July 27th from 6-8pm (remote meeting). 

The meeting will be open for viewing by the public on Watertown Cable Access https://wcatv.org/. The public may email questions and comments to Resilient Watertown: resilient@watertown-ma.gov. 

The focus of this meeting will be for RWSAG members to refine the proposed actions developed by working groups and collected through the first public input survey. Participants will dive deep in breakout group discussions to understand how these actions can become a reality for Watertown. The meeting will be live-streamed for public viewing and recordings of the breakout group discussions will be posted following the meeting.