Town of Lexington
A Roadmap to Net Zero
As one of the first communities selected for PowerOptions’ Climate Leaders Municipal Decarbonization Roadmap, the Town of Lexington is charting a bold path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its municipal operations by 2050. Backed by a decade of sustainability leadership and now armed with a data-driven plan, Lexington is turning commitment into concrete action.
Leading with Vision, Backed by Strategy
Lexington’s sustainability journey began in 2010 with the creation of its Sustainable Lexington Committee. Since then, the Town has received over $1 million in Green Communities grants and launched a robust Climate Action and Resilience Plan. The Climate Leaders Roadmap builds on that foundation with a full decarbonization strategy covering 24 buildings and the entire municipal fleet.
Developed in collaboration with PowerOptions through a program certified by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the roadmap provides a long-range blueprint to reach net zero. It outlines deep energy efficiency improvements, full electrification, and solar PV installations – resulting in more than 150,000 cumulative metric tons of avoided carbon emissions by 2050.
High-Impact Projects, High-Value Results
The roadmap zeroes in on five of Lexington’s largest emitters, including Lexington High School, which accounts for over a quarter of building emissions. A new all-electric high school – scheduled for completion by 2030 – will be built to net zero standards and powered by rooftop solar.
Meanwhile, electrification and envelope upgrades at Clarke and Diamond Middle Schools, Cary Library, and Bridge Elementary are phased through the 2020s and 2030s. Vehicle emissions are also being addressed with a fleet-wide electrification strategy that aligns with the state’s Zero-Emission Vehicle First policy.
Working Together for Climate Leadership
Lexington’s success to date – and its roadmap to 2050 – are the result of proactive planning, strong leadership, and the right partnerships.
Projected Timeline and Key Milestones
| 2024-2026 | 2028-2030 | 2031-2040 | 2041-2050 |
| Energy audits, vehicle fleet conversions begin, first wave of building electrification | New all-electric high school opens; major HVAC and water heating upgrades | Additional building retrofits and solar installation | Final building upgrades, RECs to offset remaining electricity emissions |
