Environmental Policies

Energy Task Force

The Town of Amherst established the Energy Task Force in the summer of 2000 as part of its participation in the Cities for Climate Protection campaign, with the mission to develop, implement and monitor strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the Town of Amherst. The Task Force met on a monthly basis to discuss and develop the Town of Amherst's Climate Action Plan; create policies and local solutions in addressing global climate change, energy conservation and sustainability; and monitor continued progress.

Members included representatives from Amherst College, Hampshire College, the University of Massachusetts, Hitchcock Center for the Environment, various Town departments, and local citizens. The product of the committee's work is Amherst's Climate Action Plan.

Amherst: A Green Community

On July 24, 2012, Amherst was named one of the 103 Green Communities in the Commonwealth. This development marks a significant achievement in the mission of the Town as it works to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. View Town Manager John P. Musante's press release about the announcement here. Visit the Commonwealth's Green Community Division website for more information about the program.