Recent local events give me hope at a time when climate change news is becoming more and more dire, and it is being said that we have a decade to turn this boat around.

Vineyard Wind I, which has been a long time in the making, finally has the go-ahead and will be the nation’s first major offshore wind farm. It will provide power to over 400,000 homes in Massachusetts, providing more power than all the current solar arrays installed in the commonwealth combined. It will reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by 1.6 million metric tons annually, the equivalent of taking 325,000 cars off the road every year. Hurray for this project that will make a significant contribution to our mitigating our contribution to climate change.

May 14 was the official opening of the Vineyard Transit Authority’s solar and battery infrastructure that will allow for a 100 per cent electric bus fleet, the first in New England. Not only does this project reduce our contribution to climate change, it also has tangible local health impacts. No more diesel fumes once the fleet is fully electrified. This is good for all of us and it showcases the way forward for other transit authorities. We have also passed an article to fund two electric school buses in four towns so far. Hurray!

In the last week, both Oak Bluffs and Edgartown adopted the Stretch Code and took the necessary steps to join the other towns as Green Communities. This is a next significant step in supporting our Island’s municipal buildings becoming more efficient and the transition to all-electric. And it ensures that new construction will be more mindful of energy use. Hurray!

As of Monday, four towns have passed the 100 per cent renewable by 2040 resolution. While an aspirational goal, this is an important step in focusing ourselves on a fossil-fuel free future. Hurray!

In 1998, I read Al Gore’s book, Earth in the Balance, where I learned of this threat to our life on this planet that seemed to outweigh all other concerns: climate change. It led me to install the Island’s first grid-tied solar array in the hopes that I could help turn things around. The founding of the Vineyard Energy Project in 2003 led to training for solar installers, a first wind turbine installation training, the solar car race for school kids and the creation of Vineyard Power, an Island energy cooperative, among other projects. All this work was supported by a small group of Islanders. Since then, more solar has been installed here, more than I could have imagined in 1998. Thanks to the hard work now of many, committees are focusing on climate change, discussions and collaborations are beginning, and decisions are being made with climate in mind.

With the efforts that have led to all that is described above, and many more, it is now becoming the work of our Island. Hurray to all who are making it so and to all those who are supporting these efforts!

Let’s keep going so as to further the sea change that is needed in this most critical of decades.

Kate Warner lives in West Tisbury.