Orleans Climate Committee Votes to Recommend Town Join Mass Energize Outreach Platform

Other Committee · Meeting of July 9, 2026

Orleans energy committee votes to recommend joining Mass Energize and advances August outreach event. The Orleans Energy and Climate Action Committee voted unanimously at its July 9 meeting to send a letter to the town manager recommending the town rejoin Mass Energize, a grant-funded digital outreach platform estimated to cost approximately $1,000, which the chair said would allow the committee and the Energy Navigators to run continuous public education campaigns on heat pumps, solar, and energy efficiency. Kim Lundgren, founder and CEO of Kim Lundgren Associates, briefed the committee on progress toward an August 13 "Big Chill" event at Snow Library — scheduled 4 to 6:30 p.m. — featuring popsicles, children's passport activities, and stations on heat pumps, solar, and electric vehicles, using an approach Lundgren said tripled heat pump rebate participation in Danvers through targeted postcards alone.

A member warned that heat pump quotes have risen to $35,000 for many homes and a federal solar incentive has been eliminated, saying bluntly, "It's $35,000 for a lot of houses." The committee also voted to retain its current chair for another year and elected a member known as Hakeem as vice chair, four to zero, while tabling the clerk question; one member announced his resignation from the committee effective immediately to focus on the Energy Navigators.

In the full story:

• Meeting Opening and Member Departures
• Kim Lundgren Associates Climate Action Roadmap Presentation
• Town Energy Projects Update
• Orleans Climate Action Network Update
• Committee Reorganization
• Mass Energize Recommendation and Quarterly Report
• The complete report — 2,912 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of July 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.