By Meredith McCulloch
On October 10, the Planning Board voted unanimously to support Article 2, “Bedford’s Energy Assessment and Action Plan,” at the upcoming Special Town Meeting. The Selectmen and Finance Committee have also voted to support the article
It requests $75,000 for a study of energy use throughout the town and a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero in 50 years. Bedford would become a Net Zero community.
“A Net Zero (NZ) community is a community for which, on an annual basis, all greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions produced are offset by carbon-free energy production.”
The legislature passed a Global Warming Solutions Actin 2008 that requires Massachusetts to reduce its emissions by 80% by 2050. Net Zero planning will give Bedford a framework for addressing local emissions.
Janet Powers explained that the comprehensive survey of residential fuel use would be done by collecting data from energy providers like NStar or National Grid. It would not involve surveying individual homes or spell out individual usage. Energy use in buildings would be a priority because they last longer and changes would result in long-term energy savings over many years.
Powers also pointed out that the plan would increase local control and meets the goals of the comprehensive plan.The annual cost of energy in Bedford is around $12 million a year and the average annual cost per household is $2500.
Article 2 is a petitioners’ article which means it was initiated by citizens through a petition, rather than requested by a town board. Through the activities of the Energy Task Force and Mothers Out Front, the petition collected nearly 200 signatures.
Also see: https://thebedfordcitizen.org/2017/10/net-zero-need-know-special-town-meeting-november-6/
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