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The Cambridge Compact Community Footprint
The Community Footprint is a bi-weekly briefing of relevant sustainability news, events and initiatives curated especially for Cambridge Compact members.
Sustainability News
L.A. moves further away from fossil fuels with country's largest solar and battery storage project
A Power Purchase Agreement for the largest solar and batter storage project in the United States was approved by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Located in Kern County, California, the Eland Solar and Storage Center project will be able to power 283,330 homes across Los Angeles. The power produced here will increase LADWP's renewable energy sourcing to nearly 40% of their total power, an increase of more than 5%. This project is part of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti's Green New Deal and is planned to provide low cost energy to their residents and drive them closer to their goal of a clean-energy future.

Green Communities Program provides Mass municipalities with financial support for clean energy projects
Just two weeks ago, the Baker-Polito administration awarded the largest grant amount ever as part of the existing Green Communities program; nearly $15 million. The Green Communities program provides funding to municipalities across the state to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The grants are competitive and are capped at $250,000 per city or town. Since 2010, the grants have been awarded to 240 recipients for a total of more than $118 million.

Rise of lesser-known powerful GHG linked to result of increased electricity demand
The use of a powerful greenhouse gas is on the rise as the demand for electricity increases in an attempt to move away from fossil fuels. Sulphur hexafluoride, or SF6, is a cheap and effective insulator widely used throughout the industry to prevent short circuits, fires and accidents. Unfortunately, this gas is 23,000 times more potent than CO2, and as more connections are made to the grid, the amount of it in the atmosphere is increasing by 30-40 tons per year. Some alternatives exist, but aren't as cost effective, so the use and accumulation in the atmosphere is expected to continue to grow for some time.

Member Spotlight
CDM Smith recognized for excellence in engineering
In 2018, CDM Smith finished an $38 million renovation of the Mansfield, Foxborough and Norton (MFN) Regional Wastewater District Water Pollution Control Facility. This project not only improved pollution control but will implemented cost savings for the surrounding towns. CDM Smith received a bronze award for this work for the American Council on engineering Companies of Massachusetts in August.

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Questions about membership? Reach out to Emma Groves Baldacci at egroves@cambridgema.gov
The Cambridge Compact for a Sustainable Future, a collaboration between local government, universities, and businesses, strives to create a more healthy, livable, and sustainable Cambridge community by addressing global environmental challenges. Founded in 2013 by the City of Cambridge, Harvard University, and MIT, membership has grown to include signatories from various sectors that work together to address local sustainability challenges and climate change impacts.