Carol Morse, Jim O’Connell, Westford Climate Action

Westford Climate Action strongly urges voters to vote YES on Articles 1, 2, and 3 at the March 23rd Annual Town Meeting.

We have much to lose if we choose not to pass these articles and the override on the May 7th ballot.  One of those things is our Sustainability Coordinator, a key position. 

Special Town Meeting in 2020 passed a resolution calling for the town to create a Clean Energy and Sustainability Committee and a climate roadmap with a goal of net zero greenhouse gases by 2050.  In 2022, like many towns before us, Westford hired a Sustainability Coordinator.  Since being hired, our coordinator has had a positive, proactive impact on town services such as recycling, trash and compost, and energy savings.  She has also researched and identified the availability of numerous grants and rebates and the unprecedented federal and state funding currently available for energy related projects. Just one example: She was the prime mover in identifying and engaging clean energy incentive programs for the Fletcher Library expansion project which has the potential for over $2 million in rebates and credits.  

We have much to lose if this position is lost.  To name only a few, the town will lose the staff support needed to leverage Inflation Reduction Act funding, work with the Green Communities Program, and work with the Westford POP program.

Westford is a town that cares about the environment. We must honor the commitment we made in 2020 to work together to address the effects of climate change. 

Westford Climate Action strongly urges you to vote YES to help us reach our goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and provide a cleaner, healthier environment for our ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren.

Disclaimer: If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, contact managing editor Ben Domaingue at bdomaingue@westfordcat.org. Letters to the editor are reviewed and published at the discretion of the editor. Letters to the editor represent the opinion of the reader who submits it and do not necessarily represent the opinions of WestfordCAT, its employees or any of its affiliates. WestfordCAT retains the right to refuse any letter to the editor for publication as it deems necessary.

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