Board of Aldermen — 2/19/2019 Page 6
At the Arlington Street Community Center in Crown Hill, Director Megan Caron along with
volunteers are increasing opportunity for Nashua’s kids. Volunteer retired teachers under the
leadership of Trish Stansfield and Donna Dye are lifting up first, second and third graders from
the Dr. Crisp School with the Skill Builders program. The volunteers with Skill Builders work
with students after school to ensure that kids reading and math skills are at grade level. Also,
volunteer future teachers from Rivier University are running a Pre-K Program for 4 year olds.
Four years ago we had no specific goals for reducing our carbon footprint. We lacked an urgent
plan for a greener Nashua. Today, we have moved our green plan of action to the front burner.
From talking with our young people | can tell you that they are committed to making a difference
on climate change right here in Nashua. They know that their lives are and will be affected. We
have adopted ambitious energy reduction goals; a 25% reduction in our carbon footprint by
2025 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
We have already converted all of our street lignts to LED’s. We have secured ownership over
our two hydroelectric dams. We have hired the City’s first Energy Manager to jumpstart green
projects. We have fought and will keep fighting in Concord for expanded net metering
legislation. We have our first hybrid electric buses. Working with ReVision Energy we have
installed solar rays on the Lake Street Fire Station, the Transit Garage and the Conway Arena.
We have more charging stations for electric vehicles and for more walkability, we are working on
the extension of our rail trail to the new Railyard District east of Main Street.
Over the next four years, we will work with our schools, our Fire and Police Departments, and
Public Works to reduce our carbon footprint. Right now, we are working with Shaun Smith and
Dan Donovan of the Nashua School Department on a comprehensive plan to reduce energy use
by 30% and save energy costs of at least $500,000.00 per year at the Nashua North and
Nashua South High Schools. This project includes LED lighting, upgraded temperature
controls, new transformers and other energy efficient measures. At our two high schools, we
will be able to reduce carbon emissions by over 3 million pounds per year.
And there is some good news from last night. The School Board authorized going forward with
a solar array on the Dr. Crisp School, which | hope is the first of many solar projects at our
schools.
The City will soon undertake a project vital to the future of Nashua and we want to enlist the
entire community in this important collaborative effort. Imagine Nashua 2040, we will update the
City’s Master Plan and create a 21°' Century Urban Vision aimed at providing guidance and
direction for the future development of downtown, of our unique neighborhoods, of our green
spaces, our transit system and transportation options, and of the zoning maps and land use
codes.
Together, we will consider how to address the housing shortage at all levels of affordability. We
will recommend how to bolster and strengthen the revitalizing arts, cultural and residential
neighborhoods in our center City. We will consider the future of our parks and playgrounds, our
playing fields and trail system of our conversation lands. All of our work and recommended
initiatives will be in coordination with the net zero by 2050 goals, which the City has adopted to
fight the climate crisis. And | hope that you will get involved with Imagine Nashua 2040 and help
us create the vision for the future of our City.
