Arlington Seeks Resident Input On Net Zero Plan

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington is seeking resident feedback on ways to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from buildings, motorized vehicles, the town's energy supply and through changes to zoning and permitting rules.

Input received from the survey, available here, will directly inform the Net Zero Plan.

The Net Zero Plan is being developed by Arlington's Clean Energy Future Committee, which was established in July 2018. The plan will detail community-wide greenhouse gas pollution reduction goals and identify potential measures to achieve them.

It will be an action-driven plan to reduce greenhouse gas pollution to "net zero" by the year 2050, meaning the town will reduce pollution as much as possible and offset any remaining pollution through measures like planting trees and purchasing electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar.

The most important greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, which comes mainly from the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Additional opportunities to engage in the development of the Net Zero Plan will be provided later this summer.

Work on the Net Zero Plan began in early 2019. The final plan is scheduled for completion by Dec. 31. Arlington is partnering with Melrose, Natick and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council on a joint project to develop greenhouse gas inventories and net zero plans for all three communities.

Further details on this joint planning project are available on MAPC’s website. The mission of the Clean Energy Future Committee is to guide the Town of Arlington to a future where, by 2050, net pollution of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases attributable to all sources in town are zero.

For more information about the Clean Energy Future Committee, visit the committee website or contact Energy Manager Ken Pruitt at 781-316-3428 or at kpruitt@town.arlington.ma.us.