Those who may have missed our March 21st Forum, “Will Brewster Vote Green in May”, concerning environmental issues on the Spring town warrant can now view the video of the program at:https://vimeo.com/327141510
“Will Brewster Vote Green in May? Should We Adopt an Energy-Efficient Building Code and Ban
Brewster Community Network (BCN) will host a March 21 forum at Brewster Ladies’ Library to help residents understand and discuss three environmental protection articles upcoming at Spring Town Meeting. These articles aim to reduce Brewster’s energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and plastic pollution.
Brewster’s Vision Plan 2018 calls for a “green economy” but provides little guidance on what that entails. Meanwhile, seven other Cape communities have already received the State’s “Green Communities” award, 13 of 15 towns have adopted restrictions on single-use plastic bags, and some have also limited other single-use plastics. Our March 21 forum features local experts to explain local articles addressing these opportunities, including questions and discussion.
Colin O’Dell, from Brewster’s Energy Committee, will present the energy-saving bylaw. It is a “stretch code” already adopted by over 200 towns and cities in Massachusetts, requiring verified high levels of energy efficiency in new buildings. It would make Brewster eligible for the “Green Communities” designation, which opens access to grants for new clean energy upgrades to municipal buildings, schools, and vehicle fleets.
Meg Morris, from Brewster’s Recycling Commission, will discuss a bylaw to ban distribution of single-use thin-film plastic bags at our retail checkout counters. Over 90 communities across the state have similar bans in place. If passed, our ban begins in June 2020.
Madhavi Venkatesan, from the non-profit Sustainable Practices Ltd, will explain a citizens’ petition bylaw to prohibit municipal purchasing, distribution, and sale of single-use plastic water bottles, except in emergencies. Sustainable Practices Ltd leads community-based initiatives to pass similar bans in other towns across the Cape.
BCN’s forum will includes additional panel members with state-wide and other perspectives on these opportunities. Please join us for a lively discussion around Brewster’s imminent choices to “go green”!