Municipal Aggregation: The Renewable Energy Workgroup has been working steadily with the goal of significantly increasing the share of electricity that is clean energy in all four of our Cape Ann communities. The municipal aggregation program has a real chance to accomplish this goal over the next few years. For any questions, or to help this effort, email Candace Wheeler at candacepwheeler@gmail.com.
Orientation to the CACC: The Organizing Committee of the CACC has authorized a new orientation program to help people new to the Coalition to find a good match for their volunteer, skills and talents, and the needs of the CACC. Please email Susan Hoague with you interest in participation in this program: hoague1@comcast.net.
The Climate Arts Workgroup has produced an interview and video of the artwork and environmental activism of the late Rockport artist, Elaine MacGray Starrett. A Zoom webinar on Elaine’s work, premiering the video by Lisa Smith ‘Without Just Grounds’ and featuring a panel of two renowned artists and scientist/daughter of Elaine MacGray Starrett, will be held on March 20, 2021. See Events page for more details and Registration. Our goal is to inspire local artists to consider including climate crisis themes in their own works. For more information about the Climate Arts Action Group, please contact Susan Quateman: susiequateman@gmail.com.
The Community Building and Education Workgroup has held several meetings with interested stakeholders about the opportunity to electrify our school buses on Cape Ann with no significant increase in costs. On 2/17 an further conversation with Martha’s Vineyard Transportation and CATA will happen. Please email Susan Hoague with any questions: hoague1@comcast.net.
A Phase 2 Fundraising Committee has been hard at work raising monies for the year -long study of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, called: Confronting the Challenges of the Climate Crisis: Designing the Future of Cape Ann. Please contact Dick Prouty if you have ideas for funding: dick.prouty@gmail.com.
The CACC Legislature Workgroup has been doing great work analyzing proposals and lobbying for the passage of the MA House and Senate Bills calling for a Next Generation Roadmap for Climate Policy. This bill was passes overwhelmingly by both houses and vetoed by the Governor in December. But, it has been refiled in 2021, and is almost certain to be passed with minor changes, as both houses have the votes to override a second veto. For information, email Marcia Hart: marciahart@hotmail.com, and drclsmith@comcast.net.
CACC just launched their website: www.capeannclimatecoalition.org this week. Check it out! The website has information on our action groups, initiatives, videos produced by the CACC including past webinars, and other more.
