About Us
Sustainability is a team effort. Let's work together to create a Sustainable Sherborn.
The Town of Sherborn can look back to a decade-long history of sustainability. In 2011, we adopted the Green Communities Act and put our community on a pathway of consistent carbon emissions reduction while preparing for the impacts of climate change. Our community's climate and sustainability goals are aligned with Massachusetts' Decarbonization Roadmap that mandates reducing community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net-zero.
Working with Town departments, the Energy Committee and the Recycling Committee, Boards, residents, partners, and businesses, the Sherborn Sustainability Department is responsible for developing and implementing programs, policies, and initiatives to achieve the Town’s climate and sustainability goals.
Sherborn has a long history of taking action on climate change
2011
Sherborn received the Green Community Designation from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and commits to reducing municipal energy consumption by 20%. Since then, Sherborn has received close to $250,000 of grant funding to implement energy-saving projects in Town facilities and schools. The Sherborn Energy Committee was established to support the town-wide energy efficiency initiatives.
2014
The Town initiated an outreach program (modeled on Solarize Massachusetts) to encourage residents to adopt solar technology resulting in about 40 residential solar systems providing 250 kW of additional solar energy.
2016
The Planning Board approved a 4200 kW solar canopy project at the Adessa auto auction site and a 100 kW solar project was installed on the roof of the DPW garage.
2018
The Planning Board developed the Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP), and the Municipal Vulnerability Planning (MVP) Community Resiliency Workshop and Report to establish a roadmap for the community’s climate mitigation and adaptation.
2019
The Sherborn Master Plan and the Hazard Mitigation Plan, among other goals, identified and documented the major climate-related hazards to our community, i.e. flooding, thunderstorms, snowstorms, ice storms, drought, fire hazards, extreme heat, and extreme cold.
2020
The Town Administrator secured a state grant and the Select Board approved hiring its first Sustainability Coordinator and expanded the hours of its part-time Town Planner for the specific purpose of addressing climate change mitigation and resiliency.
Sherborn passed Article 16, a petition by the Energy Committee, at Annual Town Meeting for entering the process of Electrical Choice Aggregation. This means the Town will enter an arrangement with an energy supplier to bring choice, price stability, and a higher percentage of renewable energy to residential consumers.
Sustainability is a team effort. Let's work together to create a Sustainable Sherborn.
Get started by exploring Sherborn's Greenhouse Gas Inventory and learn how you can take action TODAY to help create a more sustainable and resilient Sherborn.