Town Administrator Tom Mayo is pleased to report that the Hingham Climate Action Planning Committee (CAPC) has unveiled a 140-page Climate Action Plan which will guide the town's efforts to become carbon neutral by 2040.
The CAPC was formed in 2021 by a vote of Town Meeting and was tasked with creating a plan to make the town carbon neutral by 2040. The plan was generously funded by Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant (HMLP), which enabled the Town to hire Energyzt Advisors, LLC, an energy consulting firm to help guide the planning process. The two year planning process focused on equity and engagement with an extensive outreach campaign involving a public survey; numerous public engagement sessions where the Committee sought input from residents, businesses, boards and committees; and participation in various community events to engage Hingham residents.
The plan was presented to the Select Board on July 25 by Brad Moyer, Chair of the CAPC, who described the six key planning elements of the plan — electricity supply, buildings, transportation, waste, community and natural resources. Moyer described how the plan is easily accessible and user friendly, with an appendix listing action items that can be pulled out from the plan, as well as the start of each section addressing what the community can do to reduce the Town’s and their own carbon footprint. Implementation of the plan will be guided by a Climate Action Commission, which has yet to be appointed.
Residents and business owners are encouraged to read the plan, which includes a graphic at the beginning of each section to help show members of the Hingham community what they can do on a personal level to help reduce carbon pollution.
“The plan provides a roadmap for Hingham to reach its 2040 net zero goal,” said CAPC Chair Brad Moyer. “The plan does not obligate the town in any way. Rather, it makes recommendations and provides guidance to the town as decisions are made and action is taken as part of the normal budget and Town Meeting processes."
The plan identifies the largest sources of carbon emissions in Hingham and provides ways for government, businesses and residents to reduce their carbon output. The largest source of carbon emissions in Hingham comes from heating buildings with fossil fuels, followed by carbon emissions from transportation, Hingham's electric supply, and solid waste.
The plan lays out roles and tasks for government, the private sector and residents, so that all members of the Hingham community can contribute to efforts to reduce the town's carbon footprint.
“I would like to thank Brad Moyer for his leadership and the entire committee for the tremendous effort put forth in creating a Climate Action Plan for Hingham”, said Select Board Chair Elizabeth Klein. “We certainly look forward to its implementation as our Town actively works toward our carbon neutrality goals.”
Read: Hingham Climate Action Plan (PDF)