COOL FOUNDING STORY

In 2001, after the United States did not sign onto the Kyoto Protocol, two concerned citizens, Hank Art and Nancy Nylen approached the Williamstown Select Board about taking action locally. The Board passed a resolution to join the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign. In doing so, they committed local government, businesses, institutions and the residents of Williamstown to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A greenhouse gas inventory (completed in 2002) found that in 2000, Williamstown released 116,117 tons of CO2. Williamstown set a goal of reducing its emissions to 10% below 2000 levels by 2010. Achieving this required action from every part of the Williamstown community, including residents, businesses, and institutions. The action plan (which is dated now) can be viewed here as a historical document.  Since that time the town has made progress, including ​a Town Meeting vote in 2008 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 10% below 2000 levels, and Williamstown becoming a Green Community in 2010, when Town Meeting approves the stretch building code. Learn more about our history here.