Submitted by Sue Swanson on behalf of Bedford Mothers Out Front
Mothers Out Front is a group of people actively committed to the goal of a swift, complete and just transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy sources in order to protect our environment for future generations. Our membership includes women from a spectrum of backgrounds and beliefs. Our Bedford team has worked on projects to identify methane gas leaks throughout town as well as other initiatives designed to reduce Bedford’s dependence on fossil fuels.
We were therefore excited at the prospect of having solar panels installed on the roof of First Parish. What an opportunity to show the town’s commitment to a clean energy future! What an affirmation of the Special Town Meeting vote last November to start the process of making Bedford a NetZero community, no longer dependent upon fossil fuels!
So it was with great consternation that we learned earlier this year that the Historic District Commission (HDC) had denied the application as being inconsistent with the historic nature of the building and of the town center. And we were even more frustrated when the Town Government announced it would challenge the District Court’s decision overruling this denial.
First Parish, one of our oldest buildings, is located in the heart of our historic town center; it is clear to all that its membership takes this responsibility seriously. However, while First Parish embraces its historical heritage, it is also keenly aware of its responsibility to the future of our town and its residents. The congregation at First Parish knows that we cannot continue depending upon fossil fuels to heat our homes and public buildings. It was for this reason that First Parish decided to install solar panels on their roof. Juggling their commitments to both past and future, the planners were scrupulous in observing HDC guidelines for the placement of such panels (solar panels are permitted if such panels match the color of the roof, are installed parallel to the surface of the roof to which they are attached, are set back from the edges of the roof to minimize their visibility, and all conduits are hidden from view).
Similarly, the Bedford Selectmen must now juggle their own priorities. Is it possible to preserve the integrity of Bedford’s traditional form of governance and the historic integrity of its town center, while still preparing for a future that will demand changes? Change is inevitable: 200 years ago there were no street lights on The Great Road, no electricity in our buildings; candles provided illumination after sunset; fireplaces and Franklin stoves heated our homes. Just as the types of lighting and heating we use have evolved, so must our sources of energy.
No one wants crude and intrusive changes made to Bedford’s Historic District, but Bedford Mothers Out Front believes that thoughtful, aesthetically designed improvements, following established guidelines, should be allowed and sometimes even encouraged. On occasion, preserving our history and traditions requires us to confront problems not faced by our forebears, using technologies unimaginable to them. An active awareness of, and commitment to, our future is crucial if we want to continue to celebrate and preserve our past.
Therefore, the Bedford team of Mothers Out Front strongly urges the Selectmen of Bedford to reconsider their appeal and accept the ruling of the District Court, thereby allowing the installation of solar panels at First Parish to move forward. As we honor the past and present of our town during our upcoming Bedford Day celebrations, let us also honor its future by moving away from fossil fuels and toward clean and sustainable energy sources!
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