WORCESTER – The Worcester City Council voted on Tuesday, April 27, to adopt the Green Worcester Sustainability and Resilience Strategic Plan [Green Worcester].
The vote comes a month after Gov. Charlie Baker signed the Commonwealth’s 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap and Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2030.
The plans goals include:
- 100-percent renewable energy for municipal facilities by 2030
- 100-percent renewable energy in all sectors, including heating and transportation, by 2045
- Increased tree planting, especially in the urban core, through an Urban Forestry Master Plan
- Development of a Complete Streets network for safe walking and biking
- Reduction of waste through a Zero Waste Master Plan.The designers of the Green Worcester plan intend it as a “living plan” that includes an organizational framework for transparent and accountable implementation
The Department of Sustainability and Resilience will replace the Department of Energy and Asset Management and lead City sustainability and resilience efforts. The new department will receive support from an Interdepartmental Implementation Committee staff and a Green Worcester Advisory Committee.
The Advisory Committee, composed of civic partners, includes representatives of environmental justice communities. It will include online data, annual progress reports for the public, and regular review and revision to stay up-to-date with new opportunities.
Public participation in development of the plan included interviews; a professional, scientific public opinion survey; several online surveys; a public workshop; and a public open house on proposed goals and actions.
