City Council President Alex Jarrett presents one of two resolutions that the council passed during its July 11 regular meeting.
Photo credit: Northampton Open Media
NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton City Council unanimously approved two resolutions that reflect the city’s climate resiliency and accessibility goals during its regular meeting on July 11.
The first resolution passed was in support of finishing the entire Mass. Central Rail Trail from Boston through Northampton. According to the resolution, 60 miles on the trail are currently open, 94.5 miles are protected so far and many more are under construction across the state.
The second resolution includes support of two state bills: one is “An Act Relative to the Future of Clean Heat in the Commonwealth,” and the other “An Act Establishing a Moratorium on New Gas System Expansion.”
Mass. Central Rail Trail
The resolution supporting the completion of the Mass. Central Rail Trail states that Northampton’s portion of the trail is finished but there are still gaps that need to be filled from Belchertown to the eastern part of the state.
The Mass. Central Rail Trail is the longest rail trail in New England.
“The Northampton City Council recognizes and stands by the more than 20 years of planning by our elected and appointed officials that completion of the MCRT is consistent with a safer, greener, and more welcoming community,” the resolution reads.
Spearheading advocacy around this project is The Norwottuck Network, a nonprofit corporation that offers small grants along the corridor, like restoration of historic mile markers and informational kiosks.
The network is beginning an annual cross-state bike tour of the Mass. Central Rail Trail . The first one is from Sept. 20-22 and will go through 26 different Massachusetts communities the trail passes through, according to the Norwottuck website, norwottucknetwork.org.
A couple of people spoke in favor of the resolution during public comment, including Freeman Stein, a resident of Florence since 1986, as well as a board member of the Friends of Northampton Trails and the Norwottuck Network.
“When we moved to our house in Florence, which overlooks the trail, we had no idea what an impact it was going to have on our lives and what a difference it made for our sons,” Stein said. “[The trail is] linking us to communities all across the state and particularly communities that have less access to the kind of population that we have coming to visit.”
The resolution was sponsored by City Council President Alex Jarrett, Ward 4 City Councilor Jeremy Dubs and Ward 2 City Councilor Deb Klemer.
In his comments, Dubs described the rail trail as a “game changer” for him and is a place that provides ample opportunities for many people who are either disabled or do not have a car.
“For me personally, it created a whole new world for me in terms of outdoor activities,” Dubs said. “I can just kind of cruise on the rail trail and listen to music. It really relaxes me, and it’s definitely been a benefit for my mental health.”
Klemer said the rail trail is one of the reasons she wanted to move to Northampton.
“I’m really excited that it’s being extended,” Klemer said. “I think it’ll be really good for the city and for nightlife and downtown and restaurants and everything else that Northampton has to offer.”
The council suspended the rules to vote the resolution through instead of waiting until August.
Clean heat, fuel resolutions
The council’s second resolution of the night supports pending state bills that are currently in committee. The first is “An Act Relative to the Future of Clean Heat in the Commonwealth,” which essentially requires gas companies to transition to a new business model and install clean energy equipment in neighborhoods in a way that is affordable and just.
The second bill the resolution supports, “An Act Establishing a Moratorium on New Gas System Expansion,” would establish a moratorium on new large gas system expansions until 2026 at the earliest and prevent utilities from expanding gas pipelines into new towns.
“We need to let the legislature know that municipalities really want to put a moratorium on new gas expansion and encourage the gas utilities to instead build geothermal networks,” said Adele Franks, a member of the local activist organization Climate Action Now Western Mass., during public comment.
Denise Lello, a Northampton resident and member of Mothers Out Front — a coalition that aims to protect children from the climate crisis — expressed support of the resolution and said it was crucial that the legislature hears support from local governments since the state legislative session is scheduled to end July 31 and a vote by the House on the clean heat bill is expected this week.
Lello said that Somerville and Arlington have supported similar resolutions so far.
“It’s really important that the legislature hear from local governments to support this as soon as possible,” Lello said.
The resolution also depicts the council’s support of a future pilot networked geothermal project in the city and ways to move off the gas distribution system in each neighborhood through rate basing and equity-based structures to accommodate low-income residents.
No plan for a geothermal program is officially implemented yet, but Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said the city is working with the Department of Public Utilities to find geothermal programs they could use as a pilot in the city.
The passing of the resolution solidifies the council’s support of this pursuit.
“This brings us a giant step closer to achieving net zero emissions,” said Klemer, who sponsored the resolution with At-Large City Councilor Marissa Elkins. “I’m really excited about it, and getting rid of fossil fuels is the way to go.”
