Selectboard narrowly approves letter supporting 'Plug‑in for Resilience' grant; one member dissents

The Medfield Selectboard voted May 19 to sign a letter of support for a Plug‑in for Resilience grant application submitted by MassEnergize (in partnership with MAPC), approving municipal endorsement of an outreach and education program intended to accelerate climate-resilience actions in communities.

One board member said he had reviewed the MassEnergize materials and raised concerns about the organization’s advocacy posture and whether the town should endorse what he described as an advocacy group applying for state grant funds. "I'm not in favor of doing this," he said, citing worries that municipal endorsement could be seen as co‑opting advocacy activity rather than neutral technical assistance. Other board members supported the outreach and education value and noted local groups (including Sustainable Medfield) will be involved; they argued the program would help residents navigate confusing decisions about heat pumps, solar, and other measures.

The board motion to sign the letter of support carried; the meeting record shows at least two members opposed the motion. Town staff noted the town’s involvement would primarily be limited to endorsing the grant and contributing modest staff time or a part‑time energy position’s hours, rather than a direct financial commitment.

Why this matters

The endorsement is a nonbinding municipal letter supporting a state-level grant application that aims to provide outreach and education to residents about climate-resilience options. Supporters said the program would provide an additional vetted resource for residents; critics said municipal endorsement risks blurring the line between neutral town guidance and advocacy.

Next steps

Town staff will sign and submit the letter as part of the grant application materials. If the grant is awarded, staff and volunteer groups will coordinate on outreach and education activities.