History

Mayor Jeannette McCarthy convened the Waltham Energy Action Committee in 2009 to advise and assist the City in developing priorities, policies, and programs focused on cost effective energy use. 

Here are some project highlights:

  • Provided initative and project management to expand a 2009 $630,500 Energy Efficient Conservation Block Grant awarded to install photovoltaic panels on the Municipal Center, to one of the largest PV installations in Massachusetts with PV arrays now installed on Waltham High School, Kennedy Middle School and MacArthur, Northeast, Plympton, and Whittemore elementary schools.  The arrays are expected to provide a combined 1,940 kilowatts of electricity (about 15% of the City's municipal electricity needs).
  • Hosted a Forum at which the Mayor, City Councillors, WEAC members, representatives from Waltham Land Trust, MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, Waltham Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Committee, Waltham Alliance to Create Housing (WATCH), and other interested citizens discussed ways to reduce our use of fossil fuels.
  • Assisted the Mayor in implementing a Fuel Efficient Vehicle Purchasing Policy for municipal vehicle purchases.
  • Worked with City Council to adopt the Stretch Energy Code as an appendix to the Massachusetts Building Code.  The appendix results in energy savings and environmental benefits through improved building energy efficiency.
  • Partnered with Green Enterprise Training Institute and Brandeis University to obstain an NSTAR Community Outreach Grant which funded an outreach and education campaign to Waltham households in order to reduce home heating costs through the MassSave program.
  • Partnered with WATCH to obtain an Environmental Protection Agency Healthy Communities grant to bring energy efficiency to city homes.