The Climate Workforce and Sustainability Subcommittee heard a presentation from the North Suffolk Office of Resiliency and Sustainability (presented as "NSource"/"NSOR") on Dec. 1, 2025, covering resiliency and sustainability programs that affect Revere residents and municipal facilities.

Tom Skrowski, introducing the office and team, said the office was established in 2021 to advance projects that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and strengthen local capacity to prepare for and respond to climate hazards across Revere, Winthrop and Chelsea.

Kristen, the office’s resilience manager, described hazard-focused projects: planting 30 street trees in the Shirley Avenue neighborhood to mitigate extreme heat; a proposed rain garden pilot outside City Hall to improve stormwater management and support DPW work in the Diamond Creek catchment; participation in FEMA’s Community Rating System to lower residents’ flood-insurance costs; the Beachmont Resilience Project and a planned Phase 2 to install early flood-warning sensors that will send text alerts to help residents move vehicles before flooding; and a proposed citywide utility elevation assistance program to help residents cover the cost gap for raising utilities to avoid repeated flood damage.

Abderazak Azib, sustainability project manager, summarized energy and waste initiatives. He described Revere Power Choice, the city’s municipal aggregation launched in June 2025, saying program participants have saved more than $350,000 collectively and have the option to purchase higher-renewable electricity content. He also described a proposed curbside compost pilot run in partnership with Garbage to Garden that needs 250 signups to launch; incentives include a $100 gift card for households that participate for 12 months and free starter kits for residents if 1,000 signups are reached. Azib also discussed municipal energy-efficiency projects supported by federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funds and partnership through Mass Save and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center for school-district strategic guidance.

Lydia, the energy advocate, outlined outreach to increase Mass Save participation among renters, low-income residents, non-English speakers and small businesses, and said the office uses community tabling, partners and targeted mailings to reach underrepresented groups.

Councilors asked clarifying questions. Councilor Argenzio asked whether marsh areas would be included in the flood-alert sensor network; Kristen confirmed sensors for Belle Isle Marsh and Remedy Marsh would be part of the system and that sensors collect flood-depth data without emitting sound or light. Skrowski said Weston & Sampson is conducting initial surveys for the City Hall rain-garden site and that the project connects to Broadway master-plan recommendations.

Chairman Hermeo thanked the team and placed the presentation on file.