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Task force update: Aspetuck Land Trust to coordinate natural-resources work; solar and 'Heat Smart' programs show early uptake
Summary
Staff told Norwalk’s sustainability committee that the task force now includes about 60 members, will work with the Aspetuck Land Trust on natural-resources coordination, plans Earth Day outreach and is preparing recommendations for a June committee review; staff also reported initial responses to solar and heat-pump programs and described targets for installations and participants.
Norwalk City staff updated the Sustainability & Resilience Committee on progress by the community task force and the city’s energy programs, highlighting a new partnership with the Aspetuck Land Trust and early positive response to residential outreach.
Jody, the staff coordinator, told the committee the task force has roughly 60 community members across subteams and that the Aspetuck Land Trust has agreed to coordinate natural-resources groups. “He’s agreed … to take on that role … so that we can maximize our collaborations,” Jody said, describing the arrangement as a way to better align community organizations and city departments as the task force finalizes sector recommendations.
The task force plans a visible outreach effort for Earth Day that will include tabling, demonstrations and surveys; teams are preparing writeups in late April with compiled recommendations intended for formal committee discussion at the June 10 meeting and subsequent referral to the full council.
On energy programs, staff reported two active initiatives: a solar-installation program and a ‘Heat Smart’ rebate/retrofit program that bundles weatherization and heat-pump incentives. Jody said a quality-control survey for the solar program produced five responses so far, all positive, and that an initial investor mailing for the Heat Smart program (sent from the mayor’s office) generated 12 immediate responses. Staff described program targets of about 50 solar installs and roughly 100 Heat Smart participants, and said they will assess whether to extend the solar program after May.
Outreach will be phased to match installer capacity: the initial mailing targeted the Third Taxing District, with a planned expansion to Eversource-served areas when providers can meet demand. Jody said the mayor will record a promotional video during Earth Day week to boost participation.
Next steps include completing the sector writeups for distribution to council members, meeting with department heads to align recommendations with city operations and identifying funding mechanisms for prioritized measures. The task force update concluded with a request for questions and a pledge from staff and council leaders to circulate additional materials ahead of the next meeting.
The committee did not take any formal votes on program adoption or funding at the meeting.
