On January 17, Bill Ferguson, Co-Director of Climate and Sustainability, officially retired from his position in the City of Newton. Over more than 11 years, Bill spearheaded transformative solar energy projects, energy efficiency initiatives, and the recent passage of the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) by the Newton City Council. His remarkable achievements, unwavering dedication, and lasting impact on Newton’s sustainability efforts have set a high standard for leadership in the field.
Bill’s passion for sustainability began as a graduate student at the University of Rhode Island, where an internship with the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources sparked his interest in energy efficiency. During that time, President Jimmy Carter’s grants for public energy efficiency projects inspired Bill to dedicate his career to advancing environmental sustainability.
In Newton, Bill oversaw the installation of 18 solar projects on municipal buildings—the most of any city in Massachusetts. These projects save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, with even greater savings projected for fiscal year 2025. He also led the expansion of decarbonization programs and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, growing the city’s EV fleet to 40 vehicles and adding 27 two-port charging stations. Reflecting on his work, Bill said, “The city should be leading by example, and to me, that is so important that we’re doing it.”
Last month, the Newton City Council passed BERDO, requiring commercial property owners to report energy use and emissions annually, aligning with Newton’s Climate Action Plan to achieve zero emissions by 2050. Halina Brown, former chair of the Newton Energy Commission, remarked, “He (Bill) was an undisputed leader on behalf of the city in getting the BERDO ordinance developed and successfully adopted. By providing access to utility data sources, Bill was instrumental in helping the Energy Commission produce Newton’s Greenhouse Gas Emission inventory.”
Ann Berwick added, “It’s hard to emphasize strongly enough what a force Bill Ferguson has been in Newton’s sustainability efforts. All of the solar installations on municipal property are Bill’s work. Over the years, he has brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, funding much of the City’s energy efficiency and electrification work. And, of course, he patiently worked through the many details necessary to get BERDO to the point of adoption. Perhaps just as importantly, he’s unfailingly gracious—a really lovely human being. He has certainly earned a bit more time to enjoy his nine (!) grandchildren.”
Beyond policy, Bill’s ability to foster collaboration, build trust, and pursue his objectives with determination made him an exceptional leader. On behalf of the entire community, we extend our deepest gratitude to Bill for his dedication to sustainability and to Newton.
Kenyon Taylor is a graduate student at North Carolina State University focusing on climate change and a MassCEC supported intern at Green Newton.
Headline Image: Thanks to Bill Ferguson, a canopy of solar panels shades the parking lot at the Newton Free Library. The lot also has a number of EV chargers available for public use.
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