Millis adopts Climate Action Plan and municipal decarbonization roadmap; committee moves to implement 17 priority measures

The Millis Select Board unanimously adopted two climate policy documents on Oct. 20: the townwide Millis Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the Millis Municipal Decarbonization Roadmap. Town energy staff and the Energy Committee framed the CAP as a townwide inventory and prioritized set of actions to meet the town’s adopted net‑zero by 2050 goals; the Roadmap focuses on municipal buildings, fleets and facilities.

Cassidy, representing the consulting team, told the board the CAP’s inventory identified the largest greenhouse-gas sources — municipal and community buildings and vehicles — and recommended 17 high-priority actions with suggested next steps, partners, timelines and potential emissions reductions. Actions highlighted include seeking Climate Leader (a DOER program) designation, pursuing municipal and community solar, electrifying municipal heating and vehicle fleets, adopting commercial PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) enabling bylaws, expanding EV charging, and piloting food-waste reduction or composting programs.

Energy Committee Chair Craig Gibbons and Energy Manager Robert Weiss described the documents as next steps after the town’s 2023 net‑zero by 2050 bylaw. The board was told that the Climate Leader program replaces the older Green Communities designation and that municipal eligibility for state decarbonization grants can be substantial, with initial grant amounts cited as potentially up to $1 million per project for qualifying buildings.

The Select Board voted to adopt both the CAP and the municipal decarbonization roadmap; the Energy Committee had voted to recommend the plans. Board members discussed near-term achievable measures and noted equity considerations for access to programs. The board signaled support for next steps including outreach to increase participation in the town’s community aggregation program and to examine fleet and landscaping-equipment electrification as replacement cycles occur.

Officials noted some staff time and capacity will be needed to implement the plans; the CAP suggests options including interns or additional staff to support action implementation. The Energy Committee said it will begin immediate follow-up work — including discussing a school composting pilot at its next meeting — and the town will pursue available state funding and grant programs to support municipal and community projects.