Belmont Goes Electric! Will You?

By Claire Hlotyak

I had the chance to attend the Belmont Goes Electric Home & Garden Event in September. Presented by Belmont Light, the Belmont Energy Committee, and Sustainable Belmont, this event showcased options including electric vehicles, heat pump systems, and native plant gardens, and the Stihl company presented battery-operated yard equipment. 

I spoke with a few members of Healthy Lawns Belmont about the importance of biodiversity in our lawns and gardens. One of the main issues with lawns is that they are a monoculture, meaning there is only one type of plant in a particular area. Healthy Lawns Belmont seeks to create beautiful biodiverse alternatives for our gardens and lawns. If you are interested in learning more about this or getting involved, visit SustainableBelmont.net. 

Ben Thivierge, an energy specialist and representative from Belmont Light, told me that the utility’s current goals and initiatives include staying at the forefront of electrification and maintaining quality rebates and incentives in the state. 

I talked with a Quirk Chevrolet employee about their Bolt EV vehicles. They can go up to 260 miles on a full charge, which costs 6 to 10 dollars. With these cars, the newer the model, the higher the mileage. 

I was very excited to see how much emphasis Belmont places on clean energy and climate. I hope that as a community, we can keep up this momentum and continue to strive for a greener and more eco-friendly Belmont!

 

Claire Hlotyak is a senior at Belmont High School.