More environmentally conscious towns in MA? (Lynn, Somerville: real estate market, credit, legally)

[ballcorn]

What do you think are the most environmentally conscious towns in MA?

By environmentally conscious I mean recycling, alternative energy, hybrid cars, farmers markets, ect.

[Atlantica]

Woods Hole.

[missionhill]

Lincoln is very environmentally conscious in the sense of land conservation, protecting farming landscapes, encouraging agriculture in various forms, and making protected lands accessible to anyone through an extensive and publicized network of trails. A lot of towns have conservation land but Lincoln is especially interested in meaningful uses of the land, hence the farming and the public access. Weston also supports agriculture on its town lands and public access, and supports a collective farm there called Land's Sake. Ironically, Weston was unsupportive of a rail trail project several years ago, but they do have an extensive walking and mountain-biking trail network. Amherst is also very good on conserving land and opening it up to public use, and Amherst has part of the beautiful Norwottuck rail trail. If you see a pattern here of affluent and, in some cases, left-leaning towns being in the forefront you're onto something. However, way back in the 19th century Lynn created the Lynn Woods, a huge, beautiful woodland reservation open to anyone, which took about a third of the city's entire territory out of the real estate market. Have to give Lynn a lot of credit for that generous act.

Woods Hole, by the way, is not a town but a section of Falmouth.

[lrfox]

Northampton.

[Atlantica]

Originally Posted by missionhill

Woods Hole, by the way, is not a town but a section of Falmouth.

While it is legally, a part of Falmouth, there are many residents who would like to secede and have already done so mentally.

My apologies to the original poster if you felt mislead.

[accept-logic]

Great Barrington limits Christmas light use to help curb global warming. This fact got Bill O'Reilly excited...

Bill O'Reilly: Print Column - Can Al Gore Save Christmas?

[LizBee]

I think Somerville deserves a nod. Curbside recycling, zipcars and Smart cars for city departments, a city government that in many ways is getting more and more progressive. I can't think of more program specifics off the top of my head but I know there are a number of them.