Worcester City Council adopts Green Worcester Plan, aims for 100% renewable energy citywide by 2045
Updated Apr 28, 2021;
Months after being presented to Worcester City Council in January, members voted to adopt the Green Worcester Sustainability and Resilience Strategic Plan Tuesday night.
The plan, dubbed the Green Worcester Plan, is a comprehensive project that aims to make the city one of the most sustainable and climate-resilient mid-size cities in America by 2050.
The council’s adoption of the plan comes after Gov. Baker’s recent signing of legislation to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in 2050.
“Green Worcester is aligned with the new state legislation, policies and goals,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. “Our city is ready to collaborate with the state to make Worcester a sustainability leader in Massachusetts and the most sustainable and resilient mid-size city in the country.”
Responding to a crisis: How Worcester plans to handle climate change with the Green Worcester Plan
Updated Mar 10, 2021;
The climate crisis.
The portrayal of the effects of climate change are often limited in scope to massive, decimating wildfires in the Western part of the country, but they are also felt locally. Its effects in Worcester can be pointed to in the form of storms, droughts and rising temperatures.
Over the past few decades, Worcester has seen countless storms and environmental events that can be traced back to a changing climate. Residents will recall the devastating ice storm of 2008 that left thousands powerless, streets flooded and trees toppled over onto cars and houses. Practically every inch of the city was covered in ice.