Somerville Seeks Funds to Decarbonize Schools
At the Somerville Interim Climate Action Commission meeting on October 14, discussions centered around securing TESI funding from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to support energy upgrades in schools, aiming for significant reductions in fossil fuel usage.
TESI funding, set to be available in December 2025, is a key initiative by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources aimed at transforming energy use in schools. This funding opportunity requires comprehensive building assessments (CBAs) to qualify, a condition actively being pursued by the City with efforts to audit five schools in collaboration with representatives like Eversource.
Commissioner Courtney Koslow detailed potential applications of TESI funding for school decarbonization, including envelope upgrades initially used in affordable housing that could be applied to active schools in Somerville. She emphasized the importance of planning to respond quickly to funding opportunities.
Garrett Anderson, the City’s Energy Manager, discussed the complexities involved in conducting energy audits on active school buildings. Despite these challenges, he was optimistic about acquiring funding for comprehensive building assessments on five schools, pending collaboration with partners like Eversource.
Acting Chair Alexis Washburn underscored the importance of TESI funding, noting that while it targets a 60% reduction in fossil fuel usage, pursuing achievable goals is crucial. She stated, “TESI is significant and this type of funding opportunity may not come around again.”
“TESI is significant and this type of funding opportunity may not come around again.”
– Alexis Washburn
The meeting also explored ways to improve public engagement about the City’s climate initiatives. Christine Blais facilitated a brainstorming session on communicating climate resiliency efforts using various digital platforms to enhance visibility and engagement beyond traditional newsletters.
The Commission aims to distribute information through easily accessible means such as blogs, recognizing current content can be hard to locate on City websites. Engaging diverse communication channels like WhatsApp, Facebook Groups, and newsletters were also considered crucial.
The Commission made reminders about upcoming fall outreach opportunities for public engagement. Additionally, updates on draft bylaws and the Climate Action Commission job posting were provided, with timelines extending into early 2026.
Commissioners plan to provide updates on TESI and other funding opportunities next month via memo, aiming to expedite the process should the City decide to pursue TESI funding fully.
This content is provided by our AI fact checked by developers