Climate Change MVP Planning Grant Process
West Newbury's MVP Community designation represents the culmination of its $25,000 grant, received in 2019, to participate in the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program, allowing the Town to begin the process of planning for climate change resiliency. Working Group participants conducted a Town survey, interviewed key stakeholders, reviewed data, and completed a vulnerability assessment. In an all day Workshop conducted on February 29, 2020, a wide range of stakeholders identified vulnerabilities and prioritized issues and actions the Town may take to mitigate climate change impacts. This culminated with a Final Report and a Listening Session.
Key documents for this process are
To view the Final MVP Report click here. It identified the following areas for additional work and possible Action Grants:
1. Emergency communications and communication infrastructure
2. Open Space Preservation (Open Space, Agriculture, and Forests)
3. Water Supply Development and Water Supply Protection Planning
4. Municipal microgrid with back-up storage (green energy) for emergency shelter and senior housing
5. Improved educational communications around climate change impacts and preparedness
6. Vulnerable populations (elder, disabled, etc.)
7. Stormwater and flood management, operation and maintenance
8. Promote Town-owned electric vehicles and equipment, reduce waste, and increase compost
To view our consultant Horsley Witten's overview of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness planning grant process, click here.
To view the Storm Surge overview of climate change by West Newbury resident Mike Morris, click here.
On June 25, 2020, a Listening Session was held to gather public questions and comments about West Newbury's vulnerabilities to climate change and actions that may be taken to keep or make the Town more resilient.
To see the Listening Session slide presentation, click here.
To watch the Listening Session video, click here.