The town celebrated the arrival of two $50,000 state budget earmarks on Nov. 1, as State Sen. Jamie Eldridge and State Rep. Carmine Gentile visited the Town Building to present the funds.
The first grant was awarded to MassEnergize for its plugIN Metrowest initiative, a community-driven effort to help residents transition to cleaner, electrified energy systems. The program focuses on promoting community solar, heat pumps, and home solar installations to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Wayland Energy and Climate Committee Co-Chairs Ellen Tohn and Anne Harris, along with Wayland’s Sustainability Manager Abigail Shute, were joined by Select Board Chair William Whitney and Vice-Chair Carol Martin, as well as Town Manager Michael McCall, to accept the funds on behalf of the initiative.
The second grant was presented to the Wayland Community Pool, a nonprofit that provides aquatic programming for all ages. Pool Director Matthew DeChane accepted the donation alongside town officials, including Martin and McCall.
The funds will support facility improvements to enhance the pool’s services to the community.
“Securing these earmarks is a meaningful step in advancing Wayland’s Climate Action Mobilization Plan and ensuring our town resources meet residents’ needs,” said McCall. “The funds for the Wayland Community Pool will help make essential improvements, while plugIN Metrowest empowers local homeowners to adopt sustainable practices.”
MassEnergize, based in Concord, collaborates with sustainability leaders and volunteers from Wayland, Acton, Framingham, and Natick. Its efforts are critical in addressing the climate emergency by encouraging action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Wayland Community Pool, located at 258 Old Connecticut Path adjacent to Wayland High School, serves as a hub for recreational and fitness activities for residents and non-residents alike.
