AMHERST — Amherst is making progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations, according to a preliminary report presented to the town’s Energy and Climate Action Committee.
Caitlin Hart, a graduate student at Tufts University studying environmental policy and planning, provided information showing that the metric tons of carbon dioxide released by town operations is falling. After 4,389 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in the baseline year of 2016, the amount dropped to 3,583 metric tons in 2022. The aim is to have this go down to 3,292 metric tons, or a 25% decrease from the baseline year, by 2025.
The climate action adaption and reduction plan approved by the Town Council has committed Amherst to the 25% cut in emissions by 2025 and a 50% cut by 2030, and to ending emissions entirely by 2050.
Working under University of New Hampshire Sustainability Fellowship, and using a greenhouse gas protocol framework for communities, Hart’s draft report shows that diesel emissions were down from 1,302 to 450 metric tons and electricity emissions were down from 1,691 to 1,325 metric tons. This was partially offset by increases in heating oil emissions, though, from 16 to 672 metric tons.
Communitywide, the town’s goals are to cut the 286,773 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2016 fall to 215,080 metric tons by 2025 and 143,387 metric tons by 2030.
The committee also got a report from Miguel Gothers-Reyes, a University of Massachusetts student in sustainable science and also a fellow through the New Hampshire program. Gothers-Reyes has been building an electrification strategy through an inventory of municipal buildings and their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, as well as auxiliary and distribution systems and backup generators.
“From this database that I’m creating the hope is to be able to approximate emissions reductions through electrification (and) create a strategy and prioritization and rubric for building electrification,” Gothers-Reyes said.
Gothers-Reyes plans to complete all site visits and examination of all equipment in 52 buildings, 12 of which are heated by fuel oil and 11 of which are heated by gas.
“This is awesome,” committee member Jesse Selman said of the reports. “I’m so excited to see this work being done in Amherst.”
A late summer concert series at the Amherst Historical Society and Museum, 67 Amity St., begins Aug. 26 at 2 p.m.
The Oxbow Quartet will kick off Strings at the Strong with a 90-minute performance. The free event is sponsored by the Amherst Cultural Council.
A shed attached to the eastern end of a 19th-century dairy barn at 29 Mill Lane can be demolished.
The Historical Commission recently gave the go-ahead for Brian Frank to take down the shed that was most recently a goat pen. The shed will be replaced by a new building with a barn-like appearance.
Though historic, the shed and barn can’t be seen from the road and they face fields owned by Amherst College. But the hearing under the town’s demolition delay bylaw was needed because more than one-quarter of the facade was being removed, said Senior Planner Nate Malloy. “It’s nice they are keeping the remaining barn,” Malloy said.
Commission member Hetty Startup said the idea of recycling existing timbers to use in the new addition was appropriate. “I don’t see any reason that this demolition shouldn’t proceed,” Startup said.
Jeffrey MacDonald, a University of Massachusetts Dining Services chef, recently earned an individual gold medal, and UMass Dining won a silver for a special campus dining event, at the American Culinary Federation National competition.
MacDonald was one of six chefs to make it to the finals of the contest, held in July during the annual National Association of College & University Food Services conference in Baltimore. His gold medal dish featured pork tenderloin, soy and cognac braised pork belly, apple compote, parsnip potato puree and Tuscan kale.
UMass Executive Chef Anthony Jung said in a statement he was proud of MacDonald’s accomplishment. “As a former champion and chair of the competition, to see someone I’ve worked so closely with represent UMass at the highest level is an honor,” Jung said.
The UMass Dining team brought home a silver medal for their Lunar New Year event.
MONDAY: Local Historic District Commission, 3:15 p.m.
TUESDAY: Jones Library Buildings and Facilities Committee, 9 a.m., and Regional School Committee, 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY: Board of Assessors, 9:30 a.m., and Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.
