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CRRP-Mothers Out FrontMothers Out Front Comments on draft Northampton Climate Resilience and Regeneration Plan (NCRRP) These comments are submitted on behalf of Mothers Out Front, Northampton Chapter First, we applaud the effort to engage community members in this process and appreciate the opportunity to have served as a Community Stakeholder workshop participant. We look forward to the 2020 Sustainability Planning effort and to specific guidelines for implementation of the NCRRP’s land use elements. While the 2050 goal for a 100% carbon neutral city is laudable, the City of Northampton can and must move faster and should specify priorities for funding of the many pathways identified in NCRRP.Regeneration should take precedence in planning and financing efforts, and should be listed before Resilience, since carbon emissions reduction is the most critical immediate need. Fossil fuel free electrical energy is in reach as is fossil fuel free space-heating and cooling, particularly in new construction. Particular elements of the draft NCRRP that we support are: Community Choice Aggregation Energy 2D: Require that all buildings be built to NetZero standards and 2E: Clean Energy transitions for buildings, especially participation in the PACE program. Maximizing carbon sequestration through the soils treatments outlined as well as increasing urban forestry efforts and permaculture where appropriate on city farms. Transportation 1C: Foster city-wide transition to electric vehicles Transportation 2A: Encourage development that is dense, mixed-use and transit oriented Strong and Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative Climate Champions program Design with Nature for flood control K-12 and adult climate change education programs We would like to see more emphasis on Regeneration with an early push to transition away from fossil fuels through immediate investment in renewable alternatives for all city buildings and fleets. This could move the transition toward the “High Case” scenario in which we achieve carbon neutrality faster. Because there are few specifics about implementation of the strategies in the action plan, we can only be general in our comments. Actions must accelerate as benefits become apparent. Efforts that we belief should receive priority attention and funding include: All Energy categories, especially:2C: Apply Resilience and Regeneration quotient system in site plan review process.This should be a short-term process2D: Require that all new buildings be built to net zero standardsThis should be accelerated to a mid-term process, short-term for developing policy Focus immediately on efficiencies and carbon emissions reductions from Commercial and Multifamily residences, using the PACE program and other new initiatives that reduce the financial burden of deep energy retrofits Relaunch and expand the HeatSmart Program to convert from fossil fuels to heat pumps Reduce business carbon emissionsEncourage restaurants to move away from gas cookingEncourage energy savings through installation of point-of-use or tankless electric hot water heaters Speed up public building greening including school heating systems and solar system installations Speed up transition to electric school buses and other city department fleets Incorporate battery storage units by block or community for short term power during storms and eventually as sources of energy to charge vehicles, etc., similar to those at the Fire Department and Cooley Dickinson mentioned on page 58. By establishing neighborhood charging centers, we avoid unnecessary gas-powered generators,duplicativebattery purchase (and associated manufacture and distribution emissions.) Use gray water for watering municipal gardens, school yards, etc. to reduce demand on the water treatment system as well as the wastewater treatment plant. Expand recycling options such as repair stations and free pickup of unwanted items. Materials disposal options such as using trash compacters to reduce volumes that can reduce pickups and trips to transfer station and dumps. Emphasize development of flood storage capacities that encourage multiple use strategies and reduce demand for maintenance. For example, removal of dikes and dams and replacement with more modern flood control methods such as flood overflow basins that serve multiple uses (recreation,wildlife and plant migration corridor areas in addition to flood control). We also support maximizing carbon sequestration through the soils treatments outlined as well as increasing urban forestry efforts and permaculture where appropriate on city farms. The city can model landscape maintenance using electric-powered mowers etc. Imposing limits on hours during which gas-powered mowers and leaf blowers can operate could encourage private landscape operators to move toward electricity powered equipment. We look forward to continuing our support of Northampton carbon drawdown actions as it leads efforts to address our climate emergency. Respectfully, MOF, Northampton Denise Lello Sarah Partan Tina Cornell Leida Barman Paula Garcia