Since 2003 PVPC has been collaborating with key partners to plan for and facilitate the clean energy transition in the Pioneer Valley. PVPC convenes a quarterly regional Clean Energy Climate Action working group, composed of staff and volunteers from municipalities, state agencies, colleges and universities, and non-profit organizations that worked together to develop Massachusetts first regional clean energy plan released in 2007 and updated in 2012-14. Today the group provides a forum to share information, resources and experiences, and provides support for clean energy and climate action initiatives at all levels of government and in the private sector.
Clean Energy
- Land Use & Environment
Overview
PVPC staff can assist municipalities with municipal clean energy planning, regulations for clean energy planning and siting, and outreach and education, including assistance with developing or amending zoning bylaws for solar facilities and battery energy storage systems (BESS), and other clean energy facilities. PVPC provides Green Communities Technical Assistance, outreach and education on the Specialized code and facilitates shared energy manager services to our member municipalities.
Clean Energy/Sustainability Timeline
- 2003-2005 Regulatory Assessment of barriers to clean energy generation (1:4 RPAs funded by the MA Technology Collaborative)
- 2005-2008 First ever Regional Clean Energy Plan in MA (with FRCOG); PVPC Joins ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability
- 2005-present regional Clean Energy & Climate Action committee/working group
- 2005-2008 First round of Hazard Mitigation planning from FEMA via MEMA
- 2008-2011 Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network and regional CE/CA committee, secured competitive funding from the EPA and self-funded for several years
- 2011-present Green Communities TA
- 2012-2014 Obama Administration Regional Sustainability Planning Grant (with CRCOG) $2M to update Clean Energy Climate Action plan and Valley Vision and new regional plans: Food Security, Green Infrastructure; Regional Housing Plan; Brownfields; Environment;
- 2015-present MVP planning and Action Grants; culvert assessments,
- 2019-2022-Affordable Access Regional Coordination PVPC funded by MA DOER to expand outreach and education on clean energy and decarbonization
- 2022-2025-MA CEC funds PVPC with collaborators to distribute e-bikes to
economically and structurally disadvantaged people in ValleyBike communities - 2023-2024-MA CEC MWBE work to engage MWBEs in decarbonization work
- 2024-present Shared Energy Manager
Let's Work Together
Mimi Kaplan
Senior Land Use and Environment Plannermkaplan@pvpc.org
Derek Strahan
Land Use & Environment Plannerdstrahan@pvpc.orgFeatured Projects
