Overview
Why Is Our Climate Changing, and What Are Greenhouse Gases?
Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns. In recent decades, climate change has accelerated, primarily due to greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat and warm the planet. Human activity, such as burning fossil fuels, has caused a dramatic increase in GHGs – and the trend has rapidly increased in recent years.
Climate change is an increasing concern for our world, and for our city. As the planet continues to warm, New Bedford will face drastic shifts in temperatures, precipitation, and seasonal patterns. By investing in renewable energy technologies and reducing our energy consumption, we reduce our contribution to climate change.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
NB Resilient Goals
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our major contributors--buildings and transportation--will be key to our emission reduction efforts. To drive progress, NB Resilient has laid out four goals:
- Use 100% renewable sources for the City of New Bedford's energy by 2050.
- Reduce residential, municipal, and commercial energy consumption 35% by 2030, using 2013 as a baseline.
- Reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 35% below 2017 levels by 2030, toward a path to net zero emissions by 2050.
- Work with partners to reduce the vulnerability of the energy system due to extreme weather or peak demand.
To learn more, read our Climate & Energy Fact Sheet.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Our Path to Net Zero
To achieve net zero by 2050, New Bedford will need to take bold and decisive action across all sectors. Reaching near zero emissions will require a combination of actions including electrifying homes, implementing energy efficiency retrofits, transitioning to renewable energy, and adopting electric vehicles. Remaining emissions will likely include heavy-duty vehicles, large industry, aviation and off-road equipment, where emissions solutions are not yet feasible.
Renewable Energy
Clean and Green
New Bedford is a recognized leader in clean energy development. Municipal government has installed over 16 MW of solar capacity on its facilities, enough to cover the electricity needs of over 2,500 homes. In addition, residents have installed 11 MW of solar capacity on their own.
In addition to local development, residents and businesses in New Bedford are driving transition of the energy system at larger scales by participating in Community Choice Aggregation. Not only does this program help create demand for new sources of energy, but it insulates consumers from fluctuating energy prices, saving the community over $4 million since 2014. Lastly, the Vineyard Wind project, the nation's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, expects to put out 800 megawatts, enough electricity to power more than 400,000 homes.
Tracking Progress: Clean Water Action's 2024 Achievements
In 2024, Clean Water Action has made significant strides in New Bedford. Through Mass Save programs, they've completed 432 Home Energy Assessments, 144 weatherization installs, and 27 heat pump installs. They’ve also hosted 76 community events, bringing energy-saving resources and information to the community. Discover what Mass Save can offer you and see how you can benefit from these programs!
Actions You Can Take
Become More Resilient