The Home Builders Association of Massachusetts (HBRM) and the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative (the Collaborative) have joined forces to address the twin crises of housing and climate change on Cape Cod. This initiative, led by Rob Brennan, a member of the Board of Directors of both organizations, is working to establish a Housing and Climate Innovation Center on the Cape to produce Housing that is affordable, climate resilient and has net zero emissions. A coalition representing a broad range of stakeholders has been assembled and representatives visited Greentown Labs in Somerville on a tour of the largest Climate-tech startup incubator in North America. In addition to the Collaborative and HBRM, participants in the tour included representatives from the Cape Cod Community College, Town of Barnstable, Cape Cod Commission, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Cape Air and Cape Cod 5. Other organizations who are part of this coalition include the Housing Assistance Corporation, the Cape Cod Technical High School and MassHire Cape and Islands Workforce Investment Board.

In addition to touring the incubator, participants heard presentations from and made connections with companies at the forefront of innovation in construction, housing and climate investing, and others.

Cape Cod is at the epicenter of both the Climate and Housing Crisis, and Housing Advocates and Climate Advocates both recognize that focusing singularly on either challenge without accounting for the other is likely to advance one interest at the expense of the other. Solving for Housing and Climate in lockstep, without advancements for one coming at the expense of the other, will require informed policy decisions and Massachusetts Innovation, advocating the case for a Cape Cod Housing and Climate Innovation Center.

Climate Collaborative attendees included Dorothy Savarese, President of the Board of Directors; Maggie Phelan, Treasurer of the Board of Directors; Dan Wolf, Collaborative Board and Executive Committee member; and Advisory Council members Rob Brennan, Kristy Senatori, Paul Niedzwiecki, and Erin Perry.

As part of the Cape Cod Commission’s Climate Ambassador Program, on Tuesday, March 14, Cape Cod 5 hosted twenty-four students from Cape Cod High Schools for a session on Climate Advocacy and Policy. The session began with opening remarks by Matt Burke, Cape Cod 5 CEO and Collaborative Advisory Committee member, who spoke to Cape Cod 5’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, while providing an overview of the many environmentally friendly features of their headquarters, HQ5. Kristy Senatori, Executive Director of the Cape Cod Commission then moderated a panel with Dorothy Savarese, President of the Board of the Climate Collaborative and Dan Wolf, Climate Collaborative Board and Executive Committee member and Chair of the Collaborative’s Government Affairs Committee, on Climate Advocacy and Policy (pictured left). The Climate Ambassadors participated in the session to develop a better understanding of what actions can be taken individually and collectively to become community climate leaders. 

The Climate Ambassador Program is an initiative to educate, engage and empower young people on Cape Cod to work together to combat climate change. The Program is intended for students in grades 9-12 who would like to develop a better understanding of climate change, learn how to communicate effectively about climate, and learn what actions can be taken individually and collectively to bring about change.

By: Sarah Shemkus, Cape Cod Times, March 20, 2023

After five years of rejections, revisions, appeals and resubmissions, a Cape Cod energy organization has received state approval for a first-of-its-kind pilot program providing a package of solar panels, heat pumps and battery storage to low-income households.

The program, called the Cape and Vineyard Electric Offering, will provide all three technologies, free of charge, to 25 low-income homes in the region. Another 75 homes — a mix of low- and middle-income households — will get whole-home heat pumps and solar panels, as well as advice on financing a battery purchase if desired. The program is expected to roll out to the public in April. Read more.

– Jane Goodall

Image: Williams Lake Tribune: Metro Creative

Join the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative, Recharge Massachusetts, Cape Cod Commission, and the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority for an Electric Vehicle Expo!

Take an EV out for a spin, get hands-on experience with charging, and get a feel for how EVs can fit into your life!

Chat with EV owners and visit with regional exhibitors to learn about plans for public charging and EV adoption, clean transportation and clean energy infrastructure, and learn about local, state, and federal incentives!

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

with Jud Stailey, Climatologist/former acting NOAA Chief Scientist for OFCM

Thursday, April 20, 6:00 pm

Where: Eastham Public Library

Come to listen, learn and participate in a sciences-based discussion (in layman’s terms!) on what is causing climate change, how it impacts our local weather, and what the latest observations tell us about how this might play out in the future in our region. Engage in a discussion on how we can do our part to both prepare for, and to mitigate these effects for ourselves and our children.

Sponsored by the Eastham Climate Action Committee

On April 13, 2023, at 7:00 PM, the Wellfleet Community Forum will host presentations on three topics of public interest. Proponents of Articles 40 and 41 will explain the need for these bylaw changes and the Friends of the Herring River will discuss the current status of the restoration project. 

This will be a hybrid meeting held in-person at the Adult Community Center, 715 Old Kings Highway, Wellfleet and via Zoom

Meeting ID: 829 7557 1391 Passcode: 889989. Dial in 929 205 6099 

If you are unable to attend in person or via Zoom, the meeting will be recorded and available here.

At the upcoming 2023 Town Meeting, voters will be asked to approve a new Opt-in Stretch Building Code for Wellfleet. This meeting will explain the Opt-in Code. In addition, the meeting will explain building codes that went into effect automatically on January 1, 2023 for all State Green Communities (90% of the State’s population). The reason for both sets of Codes is the need to address Climate disruption and to lower housing costs. 

The presenters will explain the code that came into effect on January 1, 2023, and what the Opt-in Stretch Code on the ATM warrant adds to the Building Code.

Presentation Preview: Building Codes David Mead-Fox 

Voters will be asked to approve Amendments to Wellfleet’s Demolition Delay Bylaw at Wellfleet’s Annual Town Meeting. Wellfleet’s current Demolition Delay Bylaw was passed at Town Meeting in 1996. Since then, many towns in Massachusetts have updated their DDBs, including Truro in 2017, whose amendments are like those that we propose. Wellfleet’s amendments will be explained, and questions will be answered.

 

Presentation Preview: Demolition Delay By-law Merrill Mead-Fox 

The Herring River Estuary in Wellfleet and Truro was an unrestricted tidal marsh until 1909 when a dike was constructed across the mouth of the river. The blockage of tidal exchange, coupled with wetland drainage, has caused a significant decline in water quality and poor health of fish, vegetation, and wildlife. A major, collaborative project is now underway that will restore tidal flow to the estuary, and bring about numerous ecological and recreational benefits.

The Friends of Herring River will utilize this portion of the forum to present the project status and answer questions, as well as share upcoming opportunities to engage in learning about and support of a healthy Herring River ecosystem.

We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is reduce the Cape & Islands' contributions to climate change and protect our region from its potentially devastating impacts. We depend upon the generosity of our stakeholders to conduct our work. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

capecodclimate.org

We welcome climate news from your home, school, business, town, faith community, or organization. Please submit your news, events, or article ideas to info@capecodclimate.org.