MAPC Climate Newsletter

Email header graphic showing waterfront, buildings, and other clean energy elements in a community.

June 28, 2024

Good afternoon,

Last week, Massachusetts experienced the first heatwave of the summer, with multiple days over 90 degrees and one day reaching a record high heat index of 108 degrees . We are excited to share new and existing resources to help communities prepare for and address the impacts of extreme heat. For example, this month, we are launching an educational toolkit and site suitability assessment tool for municipalities and building owners interested in constructing "cool roofs" in their communities. Cool roofs (also known as white roofs or reflective roofs) are roofs designed to reflect more sunlight than conventional roofs and keep buildings and surrounding areas cooler. Our Public Health Department also developed new template policy language schools can adopt to address extreme heat and air quality. We also share communications templates communities can use to share strategies for staying cool in homes and outdoors, and how to recognize heat illness.

Read the full newsletter to learn more about these resources, as well as funding opportunities for electric school bus planning and purchase, the launch of the City of Framingham's networked geothermal system, and more.

Cooling Down the Metro Mayors Region: the Basics and Benefits of Cool Roofs

MAPC was awarded an MVP grant on behalf of the Metro Mayors communities to develop a suite of tools and resources that promote the adoption of cool roofs, or highly reflective roofs, in the region. Cool roofs are a growing strategy to reduce building energy use during the summer months and lower indoor and neighborhood temperatures. The following tools are now available for municipalities to promote cool roofs:

Educational Toolkit: cool roof FAQs, translated 101 factsheets and social media assets, recorded webinars, and more
Municipal Procurement Toolkit: model procurement language for municipal facility managers retrofitting a roof
Cool Roof Suitability Map and Self-Assessment: online map and assessment to determine whether a cool roof could be feasible and beneficial on buildings in the Metro Mayors region
Land Use Strategies: guidance on how to use land use policy and zoning to encourage cool roofs adoption

Screenshot of the new cool roof suitability map and self-assessment.

Older Adult Climate Corps Launched in Metro West

MAPC's Public Health team, in partnership with staff from Framingham, Natick, and Ashland, recently kicked off a new phase of the MetroWest Climate Equity Project. MAPC is now working with a group of older adults with diverse racial and linguistic backgrounds to identify ways that older residents cope with changing conditions (e.g., extreme heat) and strategies municipalities can take to increase community resiliency. The Older Adult Climate Corps will conduct outreach this summer to provide support to community members during the hotter months and to use what they hear to shape municipal action.

Free Peak Electricity Demand Notification Program for Summer 2024

Are you interested in reducing your municipal energy use this summer? Each morning from June through mid-September, MAPC sends out an email that assesses the likelihood that the annual peak demand for electricity could occur that day and, if so, at what time. The notifications also include an outlook for the upcoming week so municipalities have time to plan ahead and minimize their peak demand charges. MAPC develops this assessment by analyzing data provided by the grid operator, ISO-NE.

Learn more about Peak Demand Management and its environmental and economic impacts and si gn up for notifications for your municipality.

And if you are interested in reducing your household energy usage during peak periods and getting utility payments for doing so, you can learn more about the ConnectedSolutions Active Demand Reduction initiative.

New Resources to Address Extreme Heat in Schools

MAPC partnered with the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards to develop template policy language that schools can use to address air quality and extreme heat in schools. The templates are designed to be seamlessly added to existing school policy documents, including:

Learn more about the new template language . For more information on implementing the Heat Policy Templates or additional resources, please contact MAPC's Assistant Director of Public Health Sharon Ron.

Extreme Heat Resources and Communications Templates

Examples of sample social media graphics in the MAPC Extreme Heat Communications Toolkit.

In recent weeks, municipalities in the region have declared heat emergencies and canceled school due to extreme heat. MAPC

Extreme Heat Resources Page: A complied list of resources for cities and towns to support your efforts to keep your residents safe and cool throughout this summer.
Extreme Heat Communications Toolkit: This toolkit includes editable flyers, social media graphics, sample social media posts, and more that you can use to keep your communities informed during extreme heat days.

Recorded Webinar: Inflation Reduction Act Direct Pay Program

MAPC recently hosted a webinar on how municipalities can take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) new Direct Pay Program, also known as "elective pay." The webinar featured panelists from the Government Finance Officers Associations' Federal Liaison Center, the Massachusetts Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office, and the City of Boston. Watch the recording.

Upcoming Webinar: Fiscal Challenges and Opportunities for the MBTA

On Tuesday, July 9 at 10 am, MAPC will host, "The MBTA's Fiscal Cliff and the Future of Public Transit." The webinar will feature a roundtable discussion with the MBTA Advisory Board and two MBTA Board members. The audience will learn more about the fiscal needs facing the MBTA, the challenges and opportunities underlying those needs, and strategies to stay engaged on these issues in the upcoming months. Register.

$42 Million Awarded for Electric School Buses in Massachusetts

The Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Buses Program recently awarded $42 million to 17 Massachusetts school districts for electric school buses. The funding will help to replace 166 fossil fuel-powered school buses with electric vehicles. Learn more about how Arlington, Gloucester, Ipswich, and other communities plan to use the funding.

Framingham Geothermal System Goes Live

In early June, the first utility-run geothermal heating and cooling system in the country launched in Framingham. The system, funded by an Eversource pilot program, serves 37 homes and businesses and is expected to reduce electric bills by 20% on average. Geothermal systems use water, piping and pumps to extract heat from the ground to heat buildings and return heat to the ground to cool buildings. Learn more about the project.

Eversource broke ground on the project in mid-2023. Credit: Allie Shepard, MAPC.

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center School Bus Fleet Deployment Program Due July 11

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is accepting applications from eligible public school districts and private school bus transportation contractors for its ACT School Bus Fleet Deployment program. Through this program, MassCEC provides recipients a full-fleet electrification plan, preparation of depot sites for full-fleet electrification, procurement of electric school buses and related infrastructure, and deployment of electric school buses and infrastructure. Applications should be submitted to CleanTransportation@masscec.com by Thursday, July 10 at 4 pm.

Southern New England Planning Association Conference Call for Proposals Due August 15

The Southern New England Planning Association (SNEPA) is accepting session proposals for its annual conference on November 7 - 8, 2024. Proposals will be evaluated based on creativity and strength; diversity and relevant background of presenters; interactive format; and other criteria. The conference organizers are hoping to feature a range of proposals across topics including sustainability, resilience, community engagement, the environment, zoning, and more. Reach out to info@sneapa.org with any questions and su bmit proposals by August 15.