Hamilton Wenham Climate Action Team

09/04/2026

While Massachusetts is ranked 14th of all the states in the nation in terms of solar capacity installed, it actually ranks 7th in the country in terms of residential solar installed. That's thanks to so many homeowners going solar in the Bay State!

Data is from the Solar Energy Industries Association. You can learn more here:
https://seia.org/state-solar-policy/massachusetts-solar/

And if you ever want to talk to solar homeowners in Hamilton and Wenham about their experiences, we'd be happy to connect you.

09/02/2026

Want to keep up to date on the latest clean energy and climate news?

There’s a lot happening in the world of climate, energy, and the transition to a clean-energy future. One easy way to stay informed is to subscribe to a few reliable and free newsletters .

Here are a few favorites from the Hamilton-Wenham Climate Action Team:

The Crucial Years — Bill McKibben

Climate writer and activist Bill McKibben’s newsletter offers thoughtful analysis of the climate movement, clean energy, politics, and the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Subscribe: https://billmckibben.substack.com/

Heatmap AM and Heatmap Daily from Heatmap News

Heatmap’s newsletters provide a useful way to start the day with the latest climate and energy news. Heatmap AM is a morning briefing of 5 things you should know when starting your day, while Heatmap Daily offers deeper coverage and analysis of the biggest stories shaping the clean-energy transition.

Subscribe: https://heatmap.news/st/Newsletter

Grist newsletters

Grist is a nonprofit environmental news organization covering climate change, clean energy, environmental justice, and the people and policies shaping our future. Their newsletters are a great way to stay up to date on climate news and solutions.

Explore Grist’s newsletters: https://grist.org/newsletters/

Canary Media newsletters

Canary Media covers the clean-energy transition, with newsletters focused on national news as well as specific regions and topics. We especially recommend Northeast Energy News for anyone interested in what’s happening across our region, including energy policy, renewable energy, electrification, and the changing energy landscape.

Explore Canary Media’s newsletters: https://www.canarymedia.com/newsletters

Staying informed is one small way to stay engaged. If you want to get even more involved in local climate here in town, please get in touch!

Working on Winning the Climate Fight. Click to read The Crucial Years, by Bill McKibben, a Substack publication with hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

09/01/2026

Meet Sue Patrolia, co-founder of the Hamilton Wenham Climate Action Team. She's also a proud owner of an all-electric car

"My Hyundai Kona drives great -- 300 miles on a charge, super quiet, and it makes a lovely hum when in reverse," said Patrolia. "We've had literally no maintenance in 2 years: no oil changes, l***s or anything else. Our solar panels charge it, but even without that we choose fully renewable electricity from our provider so we feel great about not using fossil fuel to get around or heat/ cool our home."

If you want to chat with Sue or another member of the Hamilton Wenham community about what it's like to own an electric car, rooftop solar, a heat pump, or any kind of other climate solution, send us a message or visit our website to get in touch. We'd love to connect you with a neighbor.

https://hwclimateaction.org/

08/27/2026

With Fall around the corner, you can often find good deals on lawnmowers as retailers make room for new models.

If you're in the market, consider going electric. They are lighter, quieter, and produce no emissions when you use them. Plus there is virtually no maintenance! HWCAT co-founder Greg Horner told H-W News this past spring, "I think once people experience it, they'll realize there is no sacrifice.

To learn how to get more involved in local climate action, visit our website: https://hwclimateaction.org/

Accelerating Climate Action in Hamilton & Wenham Join the Movement CLIMATE ACTION TEAMS CELEBRATE LOCAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Many members of Hamilton Wenham Climate Action Team (HWCAT), the Hamilton Environmental Impact Committee (HEIC), the Wenham Climate Action and Sustainability Committee (WCASC), th...

08/25/2026

Balcony and plug-in solar may soon be an option for Massachusetts residents, including right here in Hamilton and Wenham.

These small, modular solar systems can be installed on balconies, patios, or other suitable spaces and plugged into a standard electrical outlet, making solar more accessible for renters, condo residents, and homeowners who may not be able to install a traditional rooftop system.

Massachusetts is moving toward a framework that could allow these systems, with safety and electrical standards in place. We’ll share more information as the rules and availability become clearer.

Small-scale solar could be another tool for expanding clean energy access across our communities.

Read more about balcony solar and a new nonprofit offering discounts on systems here:

Plug-in panels can lower your bills. To boost the American market for the tech, nonprofit Bright Saver is selling kits with no markup, starting at around…

08/21/2026

What does climate action actually look like?

Sometimes, it looks a lot like Hamilton and Wenham.

The national clean energy newsroom Canary Media profiled the Hamilton Wenham Climate Action Team and highlighted the ways that neighbors and turn climate concern into community action.

One of the biggest takeaways is that you don't have to do everything--you just have to show up.

"Getting involved in local climate action doesn’t have to mean starting a climate volunteer group — you can be a vocal climate advocate at a town meeting or in front of your school board."

Read the full piece to learn more about climate action right here in Hamilton and Wenham:

Canary's culture correspondent has a whale of a time connecting with fellow climate-conscious citizens in his New England hamlet.

08/20/2026

Hamilton Wenham Climate Action team co-founder Bob Knowles stands in front of one of the towns' electric-powered school buses.

Want to get involved in local climate action? Read more about some of the team's recent accomplishments and get in touch about collaboration and volunteer opportunities via our website.

https://hwclimateaction.org/h-w-climate-action-team-celebrates-green-energy-projects/

Accelerating Climate Action in Hamilton & Wenham Join the Movement CLIMATE ACTION TEAMS CELEBRATE LOCAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Many members of Hamilton Wenham Climate Action Team (HWCAT), the Hamilton Environmental Impact Committee (HEIC), the Wenham Climate Action and Sustainability Committee (WCASC), th...

08/14/2026

Did you catch the latest Local Climate column in H-W News this week?

The average number of 90+ degree days in Boston has grown from 8.6 during the first decade of the 1900's to 16.2 days in the 2010's. If you've lived in town for a few decades, you've experienced climate change right here in Hamilton and Wenham.

Climate change can't be solved by individual actions alone, but collective action does help! To learn more local climate solutions and to sign up for regular updates on what the Hamilton-Wenham Climate Action team is doing, visit https://hwclimateaction.org/.

We're also always looking for more volunteers if you want to get involved.