TopicsClimate & Energy

Climate & Energy

Climate action plans, solar projects, electrification, and municipal energy decisions.

Brookline NewsAug 28, 2026

Brookline Adopts Climate Plan Targeting Net-Zero By 2050

Brookline adopted a 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, a 10-year strategy aimed at reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, town officials announced Friday. The move came alongside a Department of Public Works Trash Amnesty Collection set for the week of August 31 and the release of t…

Norfolk County NewsAug 28, 2026

Brookline Adopts Climate Plan Targeting Net-Zero By 2050

Brookline adopted a 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, a 10-year strategy aimed at reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, town officials announced Friday. The move came alongside a Department of Public Works Trash Amnesty Collection set for the week of August 31 and the release of t…

Sharon NewsAug 27, 2026

Sharon Solar Canopy Project To Begin Construction In September

Sharon will begin construction on a new solar canopy at the Pond Street parking lot in early September. The Town of Sharon announced the project this week in a News Flash update, though officials did not specify a contractor or completion date for the renewable energy structure at the m…

Watertown NewsAug 27, 2026

New Watertown High School Achieves Net-Zero Energy, LEED Platinum Status

New Watertown High School earns net-zero energy and LEED Platinum status, per WCVB report. City officials called the building one of the greenest public schools in the country, according to the Thursday, Aug. 27 report. Mighty Squirrel Biergarten at Gore Place in Watertown is set to hos…

Norfolk County NewsAug 27, 2026

Sharon Solar Canopy Project To Begin Construction In September

Sharon will begin construction on a new solar canopy at the Pond Street parking lot in early September. The Town of Sharon announced the project this week in a News Flash update, though officials did not specify a contractor or completion date for the renewable energy structure at the m…

Middlesex County NewsAug 27, 2026

New Watertown High School Achieves Net-Zero Energy, LEED Platinum Status

New Watertown High School earns net-zero energy and LEED Platinum status, per WCVB report. City officials called the building one of the greenest public schools in the country, according to the Thursday, Aug. 27 report. Mighty Squirrel Biergarten at Gore Place in Watertown is set to hos…

MayfieldAug 25, 2026

Mayfield Council holds hearing on 6-megawatt solar farm proposal.

Mayfield holds hearing on 6-megawatt solar proposal as tax base shrinks. Council heard presentations from TotalEnergies and environmental consultant Chad Lello of TRC on a proposed 6-megawatt farm projected to generate $167,000 in annual property tax revenue and $178,000 in permit costs. Mayor

Barnstable County NewsAug 25, 2026

Falmouth Planning Board approves Red Horse Inn renovation, solar array

Falmouth Planning Board approves Red Horse Inn expansion and a church solar array on split votes.

Falmouth NewsAug 25, 2026

Falmouth Planning Board approves Red Horse Inn renovation, solar array

Falmouth Planning Board approves Red Horse Inn expansion and a church solar array on split votes.

StaffordAug 24, 2026

Town Board schedules solar moratorium public hearing

Stafford Town Board schedules hearing on six-month solar moratorium. The board voted unanimously to hold a public hearing September 14 at 7:00 p.m. on the proposed moratorium on new solar energy projects, intended to allow time for comprehensive zoning changes addressing community concerns. The

Worcester NewsAug 23, 2026

Worcester's Green Plan Turns Five, Faces Climate Headwinds

Worcester marked five years of its Green Worcester Plan this week, touting real progress on trees, flooding and waste. City officials say the plan has delivered measurable gains but warned that longer-term climate and renewable-energy targets may be unreachable without more state and fe…

Worcester County NewsAug 23, 2026

Worcester's Green Plan Turns Five, Faces Climate Headwinds

Worcester marked five years of its Green Worcester Plan this week, touting real progress on trees, flooding and waste. City officials say the plan has delivered measurable gains but warned that longer-term climate and renewable-energy targets may be unreachable without more state and fe…

Wellesley NewsAug 19, 2026

Wellesley Light Board Votes to Expand Solar Rebates to Large Businesses

Wellesley Light Board opens solar rebates to large businesses as federal credits lapse.

Middlesex County NewsAug 19, 2026

School Committee reviews elementary school solar canopy proposal

Tyngsborough Elementary School could get a solar canopy covering 95 percent of its electricity use at no direct cost to the district.

Norfolk County NewsAug 19, 2026

Wellesley Light Board Votes to Expand Solar Rebates to Large Businesses

Wellesley Light Board opens solar rebates to large businesses as federal credits lapse.

Tyngsborough NewsAug 19, 2026

School Committee reviews elementary school solar canopy proposal

Tyngsborough Elementary School could get a solar canopy covering 95 percent of its electricity use at no direct cost to the district.

Norfolk County NewsAug 19, 2026

Brookline Adopts Climate Action Plan Targeting Net-Zero By 2050

Brookline adopted a 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan this week, a 10-year strategy toward net-zero emissions by 2050. Town officials framed the plan as a comprehensive roadmap for reducing emissions over the coming decade, releasing it alongside the August Town Administrator News…

Brookline NewsAug 19, 2026

Brookline Adopts Climate Action Plan Targeting Net-Zero By 2050

Brookline adopted a 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan this week, a 10-year strategy toward net-zero emissions by 2050. Town officials framed the plan as a comprehensive roadmap for reducing emissions over the coming decade, releasing it alongside the August Town Administrator News…

Wayland NewsAug 18, 2026

Wayland Receives $100,475 State Grant For Clean Energy Projects

Wayland lands a $100,475 state grant to advance municipal clean energy projects. The Town of Wayland announced Tuesday it received the competitive award from the Department of Energy Resources' Green Communities Division to fund local energy-efficiency work. Living historian Judith Kala…

Middlesex County NewsAug 18, 2026

Wayland Receives $100,475 State Grant For Clean Energy Projects

Wayland lands a $100,475 state grant to advance municipal clean energy projects. The Town of Wayland announced Tuesday it received the competitive award from the Department of Energy Resources' Green Communities Division to fund local energy-efficiency work. Living historian Judith Kala…

Lanesborough NewsAug 17, 2026

Lanesborough Planning Board reviews Blue Wave solar farm, scenic-view snag

Lanesborough Planning Board hears pitch for 6,020-panel solar farm snagged by scenic-view rule.

Berkshire County NewsAug 17, 2026

Lanesborough Planning Board reviews Blue Wave solar farm, scenic-view snag

Lanesborough Planning Board hears pitch for 6,020-panel solar farm snagged by scenic-view rule.

Boston NewsAug 13, 2026

BPDA board approves 165-unit Roxbury conversion, adopts clean energy zoning

Boston's BPDA board approves 165-unit Roxbury hospital conversion, new clean energy zoning and a Mass Robotics lease to 2036.

Suffolk County NewsAug 13, 2026

BPDA board approves 165-unit Roxbury conversion, adopts clean energy zoning

Boston's BPDA board approves 165-unit Roxbury hospital conversion, new clean energy zoning and a Mass Robotics lease to 2036.

Brookline NewsAug 13, 2026

Brookline Adopts Ten-Year Climate Plan Targeting Net-Zero by 2050

Brookline officially adopted a 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan charting a 10-year path to net-zero emissions by 2050. The town's website announced the strategy this week as its guiding framework for future climate and infrastructure decisions, even as the MBTA continued work on …

Norfolk County NewsAug 13, 2026

Brookline Adopts Ten-Year Climate Plan Targeting Net-Zero by 2050

Brookline officially adopted a 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan charting a 10-year path to net-zero emissions by 2050. The town's website announced the strategy this week as its guiding framework for future climate and infrastructure decisions, even as the MBTA continued work on …

JacksonAug 12, 2026

Jackson Board extends solar moratorium to complete new ordinance

Jackson Town Board schedules August hearing on extending solar moratorium. Supervisor Jay Skellie and the board voted unanimously, 4-0, to schedule the hearing, according to Planning Board Chairwoman Donahue, who reported that the board has completed a comprehensive new 30-page solar ordinance

Plymouth County NewsAug 11, 2026

Carver Planning Board delays solar permitting shortcut until October

Carver Planning Board pumps the brakes on a state-mandated solar permitting shortcut.

Carver NewsAug 11, 2026

Carver Planning Board delays solar permitting shortcut until October

Carver Planning Board pumps the brakes on a state-mandated solar permitting shortcut.

MayfieldAug 11, 2026

Planning Commission approves 45-acre solar farm project

Mayfield Planning Commission has approved a 45-acre solar farm at 603 Scranton Carbondale Highway. Solar Star Mayfield 1 LLC received the commission's approval to construct the facility in the C-2 Zone as a principal permitted use, contingent on obtaining an NPDES Permit. The commission also

Middlesex County NewsAug 10, 2026

Planning Board approves solar screening, driveway; delays Cedar Road vote

Townsend Planning Board approves solar screening and a Haines Road driveway, pushes Cedar Road subdivision fight to August 24.

Bristol County NewsAug 10, 2026

Facilities panel refers SRO deal, $2.9 million green energy plan

Fall River school facilities panel refers revised police-contract and $2.9 million green energy deal to full committee.

Fall River NewsAug 10, 2026

Facilities panel refers SRO deal, $2.9 million green energy plan

Fall River school facilities panel refers revised police-contract and $2.9 million green energy deal to full committee.

Townsend NewsAug 10, 2026

Planning Board approves solar screening, driveway; delays Cedar Road vote

Townsend Planning Board approves solar screening and a Haines Road driveway, pushes Cedar Road subdivision fight to August 24.

Worcester County NewsAug 9, 2026

Fitchburg Small Businesses Can Get Free Energy Checks Next Week

Small businesses in Fitchburg can get free Mass Save energy assessments from August 10 to 14. Mass Save is a statewide, utility-funded energy-efficiency initiative, and the local program runs through the city's Main Streets Initiative, as detailed in a NewsBreak Fitchburg Daily Brief re…

Fitchburg NewsAug 9, 2026

Fitchburg Small Businesses Can Get Free Energy Checks Next Week

Small businesses in Fitchburg can get free Mass Save energy assessments from August 10 to 14. Mass Save is a statewide, utility-funded energy-efficiency initiative, and the local program runs through the city's Main Streets Initiative, as detailed in a NewsBreak Fitchburg Daily Brief re…

Brookline NewsAug 7, 2026

Brookline Lands $175,000 in State Grants for Energy Upgrades

Brookline landed $175,000 in state grants to fund energy upgrades and renter weatherization, per Brookline.News. The package includes a separate $50,000 EmPower Massachusetts grant, and the town's veterans services office reportedly hired away Saugus's top veterans advocate, according t…

Norfolk County NewsAug 7, 2026

Brookline Lands $175,000 in State Grants for Energy Upgrades

Brookline landed $175,000 in state grants to fund energy upgrades and renter weatherization, per Brookline.News. The package includes a separate $50,000 EmPower Massachusetts grant, and the town's veterans services office reportedly hired away Saugus's top veterans advocate, according t…

ManchesterAug 6, 2026

Planning Board approves solar farm on closed landfill

Manchester Planning Board approves solar farm on closed landfill. Vice Chairman William Barron led seven members in granting approval to NextGrid to develop a 20-acre solar farm on the township's unlined, closed landfill at 1501 Route 70, with NextGrid covering an estimated $8 million to $12

GroveAug 6, 2026

Grove Town Board backs state forest protection, opposes solar

Grove Town Board votes to oppose solar development on state and local land. The board unanimously backed Legislators Resolution 172-26 to protect New York state forests and wildlife from solar fields, and Supervisor Kenneth DeRitter, Councilmembers Michael Dieter, Peggy Gelser-Webb, and Kelly Mann

Norfolk County NewsAug 6, 2026

Brookline Adopts 10-Year Climate Plan Targeting Net-Zero by 2050

Brookline adopted a ten-year Climate Action and Resiliency Plan Thursday, charting a path to net-zero emissions by 2050. The town's move comes as Brookline Public Health's extreme heat emergency stretches into its second day, with cooling centers open through Saturday, August 8. Elsewhe…

Brookline NewsAug 6, 2026

Brookline Adopts 10-Year Climate Plan Targeting Net-Zero by 2050

Brookline adopted a ten-year Climate Action and Resiliency Plan Thursday, charting a path to net-zero emissions by 2050. The town's move comes as Brookline Public Health's extreme heat emergency stretches into its second day, with cooling centers open through Saturday, August 8. Elsewhe…

Rehoboth NewsAug 5, 2026

Planning Board endorses two lot divisions, again delays solar vote

Rehoboth Planning Board endorses two lot splits, delays solar vote a third time.

Bristol County NewsAug 5, 2026

Planning Board endorses two lot divisions, again delays solar vote

Rehoboth Planning Board endorses two lot splits, delays solar vote a third time.

Suffolk County NewsAug 4, 2026

Boston council hears ordinance expanding city energy revenue fund

Boston council reviews fund change aimed at cooling overheated schools.

Boston NewsAug 4, 2026

Boston council hears ordinance expanding city energy revenue fund

Boston council reviews fund change aimed at cooling overheated schools.

Worcester County NewsAug 4, 2026

Grafton Lands $119,000 State Grant For Energy Upgrades

Grafton secured a $119,000 state grant to modernize municipal buildings and cut energy costs, per a Patch report today. Meanwhile, the town's News Flash promoted an upcoming flu clinic and confirmed mosquito spraying will continue August 6, 13, 20 and 27 across Grafton. The Grafton Farm…

Middlesex County NewsAug 4, 2026

Sherborn Announces Well and Septic Climate Resiliency Workshop

Sherborn is rolling out new guidance for private well and septic owners as part of a climate resiliency push. The town's News Flash system announced a "Climate Resiliency and Emergency Preparedness for Private Wells & Septic Smart Homeowners Workshop" this week, aimed at helping residen…

Middlesex County NewsAug 4, 2026

Wayland Lands $100K State Grant for Municipal Energy Upgrades

Wayland has been awarded $100,000 in state funding to lower energy costs and modernize public buildings, per Wayland Patch. The grant, reported Tuesday, is the day's most consequential development for town finances and infrastructure. On the ground Tuesday, the Department of Public Work…

Norfolk County NewsAug 4, 2026

Milton To Receive $114,000 State Energy Grant

Milton is set to receive $114,000 in state funding aimed at lowering municipal energy costs and modernizing public buildings, according to a report from Milton Patch published August 5. The grant comes through a state program supporting municipal energy efficiency, though the town has n…

Wayland NewsAug 4, 2026

Wayland Lands $100K State Grant for Municipal Energy Upgrades

Wayland has been awarded $100,000 in state funding to lower energy costs and modernize public buildings, per Wayland Patch. The grant, reported Tuesday, is the day's most consequential development for town finances and infrastructure. On the ground Tuesday, the Department of Public Work…

Grafton NewsAug 4, 2026

Grafton Lands $119,000 State Grant For Energy Upgrades

Grafton secured a $119,000 state grant to modernize municipal buildings and cut energy costs, per a Patch report today. Meanwhile, the town's News Flash promoted an upcoming flu clinic and confirmed mosquito spraying will continue August 6, 13, 20 and 27 across Grafton. The Grafton Farm…

Milton NewsAug 4, 2026

Milton To Receive $114,000 State Energy Grant

Milton is set to receive $114,000 in state funding aimed at lowering municipal energy costs and modernizing public buildings, according to a report from Milton Patch published August 5. The grant comes through a state program supporting municipal energy efficiency, though the town has n…

Sherborn NewsAug 4, 2026

Sherborn Announces Well and Septic Climate Resiliency Workshop

Sherborn is rolling out new guidance for private well and septic owners as part of a climate resiliency push. The town's News Flash system announced a "Climate Resiliency and Emergency Preparedness for Private Wells & Septic Smart Homeowners Workshop" this week, aimed at helping residen…

Norfolk County NewsJul 31, 2026

Brookline Adopts Climate Plan Aiming For Net-Zero By 2050

Brookline adopted a 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, a 10-year strategy toward net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan arrived in the Town Administrator's July newsletter alongside news that the municipal golf course has reopened all 18 holes and a new Public Health Plaza has opene…

Brookline NewsJul 31, 2026

Brookline Adopts Climate Plan Aiming For Net-Zero By 2050

Brookline adopted a 2026 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, a 10-year strategy toward net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan arrived in the Town Administrator's July newsletter alongside news that the municipal golf course has reopened all 18 holes and a new Public Health Plaza has opene…

SalemJul 30, 2026

Economic Development Committee reviews solar farm Option Agreement, pursues regional grants

Economic Development Committee reviews solar farm Option Agreement, pursues $817K in regional grants. The committee received an Option Agreement from NYPA for a potential solar farm, which town attorney Matt Fuller and committee members Sue Clary and John Bardwell reviewed separately, submitting

Wellesley NewsJul 29, 2026

Wellesley Light Board Cuts WeCare Clean-Energy Premium by Two-Thirds

Wellesley Municipal Light Board slashes its WeCare 100 percent clean-energy premium by roughly two-thirds and begins work on a commercial solar incentive program.

Norfolk County NewsJul 29, 2026

Wellesley Light Board Cuts WeCare Clean-Energy Premium by Two-Thirds

Wellesley Municipal Light Board slashes its WeCare 100 percent clean-energy premium by roughly two-thirds and begins work on a commercial solar incentive program.

Middlesex County NewsJul 29, 2026

Lexington Rolls Out New Ballot Colors, First Energy Advocate

Lexington rolled out new ballot colors ahead of the September 1 State Primary while naming Yahan Hua as the town's first Energy Advocate. The Town Pool set an August 5 makeup date for its home swim meet, and the library's summer slate continues with an Elvis tribute featuring Michael Sl…

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