Scarborough Sustainability Committee reviews climate plan, transit launch

The Scarborough Sustainability Committee approved its July meeting minutes and reviewed the town's draft Climate Action Plan, which is out for public comment and headed to a Town Council workshop on October 21. Members also discussed the soft launch of the Metro microtransit pilot and the town's move toward banning data centers.

Key points

• The committee voted by roll call to approve the minutes of its July meeting; there was no August meeting.
• Members reported that the Town Council advanced an ordinance banning data centers, which goes to the Planning Board for a public hearing on October 19 and back to the committee on October 21.
• The Metro microtransit pilot soft-launched, and members said riders should use the newer "GPM Connect" app rather than an older app that still appears in app stores; rides are free through the end of October.
• The committee reviewed the draft Climate Action Plan, which is open for public comment, and identified clean energy and efficient buildings, EV infrastructure, and waste management as areas falling to this committee.
• Members discussed the town's 20 percent recycling rate, below the statewide average of 36 percent, and raised the idea of financial incentives tied to bin size or weight.
• A member noted the town's roughly 319,000 metric tons of emissions works out to about 13.5 metric tons per capita, suggesting a carbon footprint calculator for the public dashboard.

Next steps

• Members will read the full Climate Action Plan and submit comments through the online form or by email to staff.
• The committee plans to spend its next meeting prioritizing which plan items to focus on, aiming to submit priorities to the Town Council ahead of its January goal-setting.
• Staff will resend the RSVP link for the October 2 transit launch event at Town Hall and follow up with Metro on outreach to senior communities and schools.
• The Town Council Climate Action Plan workshop is set for October 21; the committee's next meeting is October 28.

Read the full transcript