The Energize Franklin team is excited to report the https://energizefranklin.org website now includes helpful tools, such as a carbon calculator, a savings calculator, and an exciting new tool from Professor Zana Cranmer of Bentley University, which looks at Massachusetts’ and individual municipalities’ progress toward climate goals.

Did you know that, as of 2023, Franklin has 710 solar projects? That includes residential solar, industrial, and community solar projects. Twenty-four percent of the solar capacity in Franklin is community solar, and 19.6% is residential, with 4.6% of Franklin households sporting solar panels. We may see even more household solar represented in 2024 and 2025, when IRA tax deductions were in effect. 

Using the tracker, the Energize Franklin team concluded that overall emissions in Franklin have decreased by 1% since 2020. Though this may not seem like much, it’s actually very impressive, considering approximately 46% of our emissions come from transportation, and most of us were doing a lot less driving in 2020. More residents are opting for gas hybrid vehicles; as of 2026, 5.5% of Franklin passenger vehicles are gas hybrid vehicles. 

The Energize Franklin team encourages you to visit www.EnergizeFranklin.org and check out the tracker. Franklin may be just a little above average (66th percentile) in emissions per capita, but we’re excited to see community members doing their part to help our planet. Every new solar array, home heat pump conversion, or new EV in the parking lot is another piece of the puzzle.