Discussion in Northampton focuses on tackling the ongoing climate crisis

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Local officials are raising the alarm on the on-going climate crisis in the wake of Hurricane Helene devestating the South East and that area is bracing for another potential category 4 storm. This Sunday night a climate crisis dicussion in Northampton was held.

The Mayor of Northampton Gina-Louise Sciarra tells 22News they are trying to plan for the increase in storms and the extensive damage that could come with it. "We're seeing faster storms, we're seeing bigger storms and they're just dropping a lot more water at a very quick rate," said Sciarra.

And that is becoming a concern for the mayor of Northampton, especially in the wake of major storms devastating parts of the East Coast. Northampton has had its fair share of flooding in recent years and Mayor Sciarra wants to make sure the city's aging water sewer infrastructure is up to date.

"It involves old engines from the boats from th 40s and it's critical we've done the first phase of updating that structure but we need to move onto the second phase of that," added Sciarra.

Mayor Sciarra working with the Climate Action and Project Administration to make sure the city can handle the ever-changing climate and the storm damage that could come with it.

"Millions of dollars to rebuild the pumping sytem we need to deal with the water that is coming, but simultaneously if we can detain that water that is coming uphill, if we can have it stay in the ground a bit longer then those pumps become less critical," said Northampton`s Director of the Climate Action and Project Administration, Dr. Ben Weil.

Dr. Weil also says there needs to be drainage installed on Main Street to handle stormwater. The city has requested state and federal funding to help make the updates possible. And other key issues are also being tackled by the administration, "I'm really focused on municpal owned properties and reducing their energy use and electrifying their heating so we reduce their combustion of fossil fuels," said Dr. Weil.

This is another step in helping the city meet it's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and net-zero by 2050.

By November 1st, a new consumer-friendly regional electricity program called Valley Green Energy will also be launching. It will help Northampton, Amherst, and Pelham residents see lower costs for their electricity.

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