Thanks to all who have shown interest in this topic and raised questions and comments, some of which I will try to address here. 1. What exactly is being proposed? > Here is a link to the motion that will be offered: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/166U4Tazy0de503jP2SlCOd_Uy_d6FfOd 2. Why not seek to adopt a specific bylaw now? > To allow more time for full Lincoln engagement on the details of the bylaw. 3. Why not wait and do it all at once at the next Town Meeting? > Time is of the essence in taking steps to mitigate climate change. We believe it is powerful and important for Lincoln to make a statement now, which will have meaningful ramifications outside as well as inside Lincoln. (See #4 below.) 4. How can little old Lincoln have any meaningful impact on climate change? > Passing this motion at Town Meeting would, among other things, send another strong signal to state-level policymakers about state-wide changes needed. Specifically, the Dept. of Energy Resources needs to improve what it has proposed as an "opt-in" net zero stretch code, and if not the legislature needs to take additional action to enable all towns to require that new construction be fossil-fuel-free. 5. Even if all Towns adopted such changes, wouldn't the impact on climate change be trivial? > No. Buildings account for about half of the state's greenhouse gas emissions. About 20% to 25% of the building space that will exist in Massachusetts in 2050 hasn't been built yet. We shouldn't keep digging the hole we are in deeper by adding more fossil-fueled buildings (which would just have to be retrofitted later, to meet our climate goals). 6. What about costs? > Such good news here! All-electic heating equipment does not cost more than comparably efficient gas-burning equipment, and at current gas and electricity prices, it's less expensive to operate. 7. Would this apply to propane and oil as well? > Yes; the authority to regulate would apply to any fossil fuels that a house would run on. However, emergency generators could be exempted (and my guess is Lincoln would choose to exempt them when we later finalize a bylaw). 8. What "major modifications" could be covered? > Whether to cover them and how to define them would be decided when the Town later finalizes a bylaw. Other Towns have defined them to mean projects in which 75% of the floor area of the building is redone - what many would call a "gut renovation". 9. Why can't we solve our climate problems by fracking more gas? > Gas is more efficient than coal or oil, but it's still terrible, and we need to get off it ASAP. We can do it with solar and wind and energy storage. (Personally I'm for nuclear also, but its lead times are long; see #10 below.) 10. Why can't we assume that future people will fix this, with some new technological solution? > Scientists say making big progress in emissions reductions in the next decade is crucial, so we can't afford to wait. That's why the 2021 climate act calls for a 50% reduction from 1990 baseline emissions levels by 2030, which means about another 1/3 reduction from where we are now. As to the idea that humans have always found a way to fix things in time, read "Collapse" by Jared Diamond for many examples from human history of the opposite. This one's on us.
- Paul Shorb
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