Dear Editor:
It was wonderful to see everyone at the Earth Day event! As discussed, I wanted to share a brief overview of the Town of Wayland’s Sustainability Department and our ongoing efforts to support a more resilient and climate-forward community.
The Town’s sustainability staff operate within the Facilities Department and are currently composed of two members—Olivia Blaney and Abigail Shute—who work collaboratively across departments to implement the Town’s Climate Action Mobilization Plan. A key focus of the department is supporting Wayland’s commitment to reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the year 2030—a goal outlined in the Climate Action Mobilization Plan.
Thanks to the proactive efforts of dedicated community volunteers—including members of the Energy and Climate Committee and Energize Wayland—who championed early investments in solar energy, high-efficiency HVAC systems, LED lighting, and other clean technologies, Wayland is proudly on track to meet this ambitious goal. The Town’s Sustainability Team, established just over two years ago, has built on this strong foundation to accelerate progress across departments and continue leading by example.
Olivia Blaney serves as Wayland’s Sustainability Coordinator. She has a strong background in Environmental Science and Policy, along with hands-on experience in extreme weather response, energy efficiency through her work with Eversource, and environmental justice initiatives. Olivia recently joined the department and has quickly begun contributing to both community outreach and technical programming—helping residents and business owners reduce emissions from their homes and buildings, with a particular focus on serving the most vulnerable members of our community.
Abigail Shute is the Assistant Director of Facilities and Sustainability. With a background in Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Abigail manages energy-related capital projects for municipal facilities and oversees grant-funded initiatives that support climate and infrastructure goals. She also brings additional expertise in conservation, nonprofit leadership, and facilities management. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to connect further!!
Thank you for your time,
Abigail Shute
Assistant Director of Facilities
& Sustainability
Town of Wayland
41 Cochituate Road
Wayland, Ma 01778
