Special to the Record Climate change and environmental sustainability have become central to City Manager Jay Ash’s wide-ranging agenda. Through both his position in municipal government and his role as president of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council—the regional planning organization serving 101 communities throughout Greater Boston and surrounding areas—Ash has established himself as a leading voice for improved environmental stewardship. “We need to be cleaner and greener,” Ash told attendees at a recent MAPC conference held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, where he addressed 150 municipal officials and energy consultants. “Municipalities can and must lead the way, and we need to bring our residents and businesses with us towards a healthier planet.” During that conference, Ash outlined the energy and environmental strategy currently taking shape in Chelsea. His presentation covered several key initiatives: the planned conversion of municipal street lighting to energy-efficient LEDs, home weatherization programs, expanded recycling efforts, the City’s pursuit of renewable energy sources, and plans to hire an energy manager to guide both municipal operations and private sector energy conservation efforts. To support these and related goals, Ash is recruiting community members with relevant expertise and commitment to serve on an environmental sustainability committee. His vision calls for a group combining City officials with volunteer residents to collaborate on what he describes as a “Greener Chelsea” agenda. “We’re fortunate here in Chelsea to have many people taking up the sustainability cause. In some cases, those advocates are pushing us to do more, while at other times, City government may be leading the way. No matter whether we lead or follow, anything we can do to be more responsible stewards of our environment is a good thing,” Ash emphasized. Community members interested in joining the Greener Chelsea Committee should reach out to Ash via email at [email protected] or by mail at 500 Broadway, Chelsea, MA 02150.
Ash Leading Efforts on Energy, Looking for Help
