By Dakota Antelman — [email protected]
The cuts haven’t come yet. But Concord officials are still wary about federal funding for local sustainability and climate efforts under President Donald Trump.
If one specific program gets cut, it could complicate utility projects. Residents are voicing their frustration. As experts grapple for information, sustainability director Eric Simms said they’re often coming up empty.
“There’s not a lot of great answers right now,” he said. “It’s day to day as headlines hit.”
‘Not particularly optimistic’
Trump and adviser Elon Musk have put grants, programs, and entire agencies in their crosshairs in their purported effort to make government more efficient. Amid the turmoil, Simms faced a question about sustainability funding at a March 4 Conservation and Climate Coffee event and said, “We’re not particularly optimistic.”
Simms spoke with The Concord Bridge after the event and noted the IRS’ elective pay mechanism, which expanded to include municipal governments when President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act.
Simms said Concord expected to receive roughly $22,500 through elective pay in 2023 after buying three electric vehicles for town use. Officials also factored elective pay into their planning for a Concord Municipal Light Plant solar array at the new Ellen Garrison Building at Concord Middle School and a $10.4 million solar storage battery system that voters approved last spring.
Jitters about elective pay
Shortly after Trump’s election, CMLP director Jason Bulger said, local officials heard from lobbyists who doubted a cut to elective pay. Lobbyists said the new administration was unlikely to target the program, because a large amount of money went to states that voted for Trump.
“Then you started seeing the DOGE thing happening, and then nobody really knew what was going to happen,” Bulger said, referencing Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Bulger said officials will, at some point, meet with experts to determine whether they can trust that elective pay money will be available when needed.
If officials think relying on elective pay is too risky, Bulger said, they will probably have to downsize the CMS project.
Bulger said battery plan details are in flux. CMLP has considered using elective pay. Previously stalled conversations with battery companies are moving forward, though, putting a cost-sharing partnership back on the table.
Whether the partnership comes through or not, Bulger said officials are planning for a possible future without elective pay. Speaking about CMS solar, he said CMLP “will definitely make sure that we’re in a non-risky position if we’re committing dollars to the project.”
‘Core value’
The Trump administration has faced legal pushback against some cuts. If the administration tried to trim elective pay, Simms said it could face more hurdles.
Simms said uncertainty around sustainability funding still has been stressful for many communities. The swing from Biden’s climate policies to Trump’s is also notable and has spurred local protests.
“Over the past few years, it feels like there’s been a lot of federal support and progress made,” he said. “To suddenly do a 180 on that is a little bit challenging.”
Simms spoke with The Bridge shortly before officials announced plans to eliminate the sustainability director position. Simms’ last day is expected to be June 30.
That cut relates to Concord’s municipal budget crunch and an effort to damper property tax hikes — not federal action.
Town Manager Kerry Lafleur said Concord “remains committed to sustainability as a core value.”
Climate Action Committee co-chair Brad Hubbard-Nelson said he’s worried the looming layoff could hinder local sustainability efforts. As uncertainty swirls in Washington D.C., he said, “You can’t help feeling that there’s a little bit of a retreat” on climate issues.
