Climate Action Services

CET helps communities move toward a sustainable future

For more than 30 years, CET has assisted communities with practical, affordable solutions to energy and waste management issues. CET’s broad array of services to towns includes recycling and waste management programs, environmental education, greening municipal buildings, renewable energy education, and helping towns earn funding for local clean energy projects.

CET’s Climate Change Circuit Rider Initiative

Towns in western Massachusetts are increasingly concerned about rising energy costs, dwindling fossil fuel resources and a warming climate. With funding from the Jessie B. Cox Charitable Lead Trust and the Frances Fund, CET staffs a Climate Change Circuit Rider Initiative. This initiative enables CET to work more intensively with communities in the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley toward cutting energy costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

CET’s Circuit Rider Initiative aims to help start or strengthen energy or climate action committees. Our Circuit Riders are able to offer limited support to towns in western Massachusetts on a first-come, first-served basis, so please contact one of CET’s Climate Change Circuit Riders if your town would like to participate. In the Berkshires, contact Nancy Nylen. Communities in the Pioneer Valley can contact Peggy MacLeod.

Some highlights of CET's Circuit Rider Services

• Start or strengthen energy committees or climate action groups
  CET’s Western Massachusetts Town Energy and Climate Action Guide
  A comprehensive step-by-step guide for establishing a climate action group or energy committee in your town, with resources on funding, programs, strategies and organizations.
• Workshops and education for municipalities
  
• CET has helped more than 23 towns earn over $550,000 in clean energy grants for renewable energy projects through the MTC's Clean Energy Choice program, which has now ended. Earn funding for a local renewable energy project in your town
• Direct assistance to towns
  CET will help towns with tasks such as conducting a needs assessment, identifying goals, implementing clean energy campaigns, and identifying available resources.
• Download a full description of CET's Climate Action Services to Towns

Municipal Case Studies

• North Adams Library (.pdf download)
• Town Building, Wendell (.pdf download)
• Northampton Sustainability Planning (.pdf download)
• Town of Shutesbury (.pdf download)
• Town of Warwick (.pdf download)

Model Climate Action Campaigns

• Take Charge North Adams (.pdf download)
• Lenox Environmental Committee (.pdf download)
• Williamstown COOL Business Challenge (.pdf download)
• Greening Greenfield (.pdf download)

Model Municipal Bylaws and Resolutions

• Amherst Clean Energy Campaign Resolution (.pdf download)
• Model Climate Change Resolutions (.pdf download)
• Shutesbury's Wind Bylaw (.pdf download)

See our Resource Library for handouts/presentations for communities.