SWAMPSCOTT — The town has been recognized by the Healey-Driscoll administration as being Massachusetts’ first 19 certified Climate Leader Communities.
Swampscott first committed to decarbonizing its municipal operations in 2021. In order to achieve the certification, the town had to successfully meet several key requirements, which ranged from a commitment to end fossil fuel use in the future to developing plans for decarbonization.
The requirements read as follows: the town must maintain its status as a “Green Community” in good standing; the town must establish a local committee to advise and coordinate clean energy and climate activities; commit to eliminating on-site fossil fuel use by 2050; develop a municipal decarbonization roadmap; implement a zero-emission-vehicle-first policy, and adopt a specialized energy code (a stricter building code that cities and towns in the state can adopt to require higher energy efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions in new constructions).
Through the town’s status as a Climate Leader Community, Swampscott will now have access to grant funding for implementing clean energy projects, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance sustainability throughout the town, according to a statement in its June newsletter.
This will include support for energy efficiency measures as well as heating and cooling projects. Also, energy management services, and local energy generation on municipally owned properties (installing renewable energy sources on town-owned buildings or land).
“This recognition reflects our ongoing work toward reaching net-zero community emissions by 2050, and our commitment to building a climate-resilient community,” the town said in a statement.
