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.
WORCESTER With less than a week before residents 75 or older become eligible to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, city councilors said they have been getting anxious phone calls from residents about the process, and they don t know what to tell them.
At-large Councilor Donna Colorio said that since Monday, when Gov. Charlie Baker announced the change to the state s phased vaccine rollout that will allow the seniors to get vaccinated, she has heard from many elderly residents. She said they are scared and confused, and wanted to know who they can call, or where they can go. She said many residents who have trouble getting out are concerned they will be passed over.
Politics and the City: Advocates want more from Green Worcester Plan
WORCESTER The City Council last week tabled a report on the latest draft of the Green Worcester Plan.
But local environmental advocates didn t wait to give some feedback on the plan, which was developed over the past year with the goal of making Worcester one of the most sustainable and climate-resilient midsize cities in the U.S. by 2050.
Speakers Tuesday coupled praise for elements of the draft plan with criticism that it doesn t go far enough.
The Green Worcester Plan lays out sustainability goals across several sectors of city government, including green building, water management, emissions, waste and food resilience.