Sustainable MetroWest Gathering 2013 presentation by Chris DeLise

1. Boxborough
Sustainable
MetroWest
2013
Chris
DeLise,
Boxborough
Local
Fmr
Agricultural
Commission
member/chair
Also
RepresenCng
Boxborough
Energy
CommiFee
Photograph
by
Liz
West

2. Boxborough
Sustainable
MetroWest
2013
Recent
IniCaCves
• Compactor
for
Recyclables
–
4:1
cost
savings
– Successful
alternaCve
to
Pay-­‐as-­‐you-­‐throw
• Supported
Local
Agriculture…
– Created
Ag
Comm
&
Right
to
Farm
bylaw
– Doubled
Community
Gardens
– Support
AB
Farmers
Market
• Historical
Farmland
into
APR
trusts

3. Boxborough
Sustainable
MetroWest
2013
Successes
&
Best
PracCces
• Municipal
building
energy
audits
&
improvements
funded
by
TM
• Local
Food,
Local
Agriculture
a
cultural
win
– Community
Gardens
– Grange/Harvest
Fair
– Farmer’s
Market
• PracCcal
SoluCons
&
Teaming
– Available
church
hall
as
COA
meeCng
place

4. Boxborough
Sustainable
MetroWest
2013
Lessons
Learned,
Maybe
• Green
CommuniCes
Act
not
a
fit
– Tailored
for
Investor-­‐Owned
UCliCes
– Excellent,
low
rate
Municipal
Electric
uClity
– Generator
grant
to
use
school
as
shelter
– Not
contribuCng
to
REC
– Studying
local
efforts
instead
of
state
incenCves
• More
Carrots,
Fewer
SCcks
– Pay-­‐as-­‐you-­‐throw
a
disincenCve
– Compactor
a
win-­‐win

5. Boxborough
Sustainable
MetroWest
2013
Looking
Forward
• ConCnue
Energy
Descent
at
local
level
– Town
structures
when
maintenance
needed
– Muni/RGGI
or
other
local
grant
seeking
– School
via
the
Region,
Collaborate
with
Acton
• Plan
with
Sustainability
in
mind
– Center-­‐Village
planning/visioning
– Proposed
large
projects
–
commercial,
condos
– Water

6. Boxborough
Sustainable
MetroWest
2013
CollaboraCon
• Local
TransportaCon
Systems
• Muni
IncenCves
–
RGGI,
legislature?
• Promote
local
renewables
because
it’s
right