Joel J. Fontane, Jr., AICP - Chair
44 Front Street, Suite 510, Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: (508) 799-1400, Fax: (508) 799-1393
Email: fontanej@worcesterma.gov
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Worcester, the GREEN heart of the Commonwealth!
In fulfillment of the City of Worcester's commitments as a participant in the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) campaign, City Manager Micheal V. O'Brien appointed thirteen members to Worcester's Energy Task Force in February of 2006. The Task Force consists of leaders representing local businesses, environmental organizations, municipal government and utility companies. In January 2007 Worcester's Energy Task Force completed its Climate Action Plan.
Create a step-by-step plan to reduce energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions and increase the use of clean, renewable energy in a cost effective manner in the city of Worcester.
In order to meet this mission, task force members have formed three sub-committees representing the main aspects of the Climate Action Plan: Transportation, Renewable Energy, and Energy Efficiency.
The City joined the Cities for Climate Protection campaign in October of 2003 by a unanimous resolution of the City Council. CCP is an international campaign of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability and offers a 5-step framework to help local governments reduce global warming and air pollution emissions.
The City completed the first step, conducting an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, in April of 2004. The Energy Task Force is now charged with completing steps 2 and 3, setting a ghg emissions reduction target and creating a Climate Action Plan (CAP). The final draft of the CAP was completed in January 2007.
In March of 2005, the City Council unanimously passed a Clean Energy Resolution making Worcester the largest city in the country to set a goal of purchasing 20% of the electricity used for municipal operations from clean, renewable sources by 2010. One goal of the energy task force is to figure out ways for the City to meet this target. You can learn more about this in the Renewable Energy section of Worcester's Climate Action Plan.
In addition, Worcester has also signed on to the US Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement.
