GREENFIELD, MA -- Moving Toward a Fossil Fuel Free Future is the topic of the final panel discussion in a series of three offered by the Sustainable Greenfield Implementation Committee (SGIC). It will be held on Thursday, May 17 at 6:30 pm, at the new John Zon Community Center, 35 Pleasant Street, in Greenfield. Residents are invited to meet some of the people who are working quietly and steadily behind-the-scenes to put our master plan into action, learn about progress, and ask questions and make comments about next steps.
“Sustainable Greenfield, Greenfield’s Master plan that was written by residents in 2014, has a lot to say about Greenfield becoming a “showcase clean energy city,” said Nancy Hazard, chair of the SGIC, and panel moderator. “Greenfield has made amazing progress toward this goal. We are a recognized leader in the state and beyond, and are on an exciting path to a fossil fuel free and 100% renewable energy future!”
The evening will be kicked off by Eric Twarog, Greenfield’s Director of Planning and Development, with some history leading up to the writing of Sustainable Greenfield, and the value of this document. He will then talk about tools that planners and residents can use to help us all bring our visions to reality. He brings 23 years of experience in planning with a Master Degree in Urban and Regional Planning.
Carole Collins, Director of Energy and Sustainability, will talk about the many exciting projects that have been completed and tools that she is putting in place so that we can continue to make progress. She will also talk about future projects coming down the pike that she believes will have the greatest impact on achieving the Town’s goals of building resiliency and reducing utility costs by reducing fossil fuel use and building solar projects. Carole brings a vision and passion for sustainability, and has over 20 years experience in the fields of ecological architecture and sustainable development.
“It is really exciting to be holding this event in Greenfield’s new community center, which sets a new standard of how municipal buildings should be built,” said Carole Collins. “What you see is the beauty, light, and comfort. What you don’t see, but is critically important, is that the building will use very little energy to operate”
"One of the primary responsibilities of the Department of Planning and Development is to assist in the creation of a vision and the implementation of that vision for Greenfield's for long-range planning and future development,” said Eric Twarog, planning director. “The 2014 Sustainable Master Plan is Greenfield's primary document to accomplish this."
There will be lots of time for questions and comments from the audience. A resolution that is moving toward the Town Council that aims to clarify Greenfield’s commitment to 100% renewable energy and a fossil fuel free future, and support bills in the Massachusetts Legislature and in Congress, will also be handed out. For more information about Sustainable Greenfield, Greenfield’s master plan, or SGIC, visit: http://greenfield-ma.gov/g/31/Sustainable-Greenfield