Energy and Climate Action Committee Meeting Sep 23, 2026

The Town of Amherst, MA Energy and Climate Action Committee held a meeting on September 23, 2026, focusing on advancing the town's climate mitigation and resilience goals as outlined in the Climate Action Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CARP). Key procurement-related discussions included planning for outreach and education initiatives such as the landlord heat pump program, which involves targeted communication with property owners to promote energy efficiency upgrades. The committee also discussed upcoming presentations on UMass Amherst's decarbonization plans, highlighting the university's significant greenhouse gas emissions from its central heating plant and the need for collaborative efforts to meet future reduction targets. Additionally, the committee reviewed regional and state policy updates, including concerns about potential funding cuts to energy efficiency programs like Mass Save, which could impact local rebate and assessment services. A formal vote was taken to recommend reducing the committee membership from eight to seven members to facilitate quorum and meeting efficiency. The committee planned further agenda items around retreat planning and continued education and outreach efforts.