Boston took a major step Wednesday toward seeking state permission for a fossil fuel ban in the local building sector when a home rule petition won City Council approval.
Councilors voted 9-3 in favor of the measure, unveiled last month by Mayor Michelle Wu, that aims to transition new construction and major renovations in New England's largest city to all-electric heat and other forms of fossil fuel-free infrastructure. The three dissenting votes were Councilors Frank Baker, Michael Flaherty and Erin Murphy, according to the Boston Herald.
Wu still needs to sign the petition to send it to Beacon Hill, a city spokesperson said. That is likely a formality after she announced plans to pursue the change in August. After that, the next steps for Boston are far murkier, intertwined with state regulatory review and decision-making yet to unfold in other Massachusetts cities and towns.
A new clean energy law Gov. Charlie Baker signed last month creates a pilot program allowing 10 municipalities to limit the use of fossil fuels in their local building sectors, and 10 cities and towns already secured spots by filing home rule petitions before the measure got signed into law.
Boston could wind up in limbo awaiting state authorization to pursue its own fossil fuel restrictions separate from the pilot program, a change to the program's cap of 10 municipalities, or for a spot in the program to open up if any city or town further ahead in line drops out.
Three communities that sought to join the program -- Arlington, Newton and West Tisbury -- are at risk of failing to qualify for the program because of their low affordable housing stocks, a prerequisite that Boston would meet based on available data. - Chris Lisinski/SHNS | 9/14/22 5:35 PM
ACEC/MA members only pay the ACEC/MA member rate for registration. Check the ACEC/MA Member Directory to see if your firm is an ACEC/MA member. If your firm is an ACEC/MA member, you are a member.
Important: You must use the account, including the username and password, of the individual you wish to register.
Forgot your password? | Need an account?
IMPORTANT: Altering your name or contact information during registration will overwrite your record in our membership database. Please do not share your login information with anyone else.
If you have additional questions regarding registration, contact us at 617/227-5551 or acecma@engineers.org.
Registration is processed through the ACEC/MA associated website, www.engineers.org. ACEC/MA is supported by the staff of The Engineering Center Education Trust.
