Massachusetts lawmakers are considering legislation that could significantly expand the state’s pioneering fossil-fuel-free construction pilot. The proposed bill would double the number of cities and towns allowed to ban natural gas and other fossil fuels in new buildings and major renovations, extending the state’s push toward a cleaner, all-electric future.
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The proposal builds on a 2022 state climate law that authorized a 10-community pilot program for municipalities to prohibit fossil-fuel hookups in new construction. If approved, the expansion would allow 10 more cities and towns — including Salem, Somerville, and potentially Worcester — to participate. Boston, the state’s largest city, has also expressed interest in joining.
“We’re a coastal community that’s going to bear the brunt of climate change,” said state Rep. Manny Cruz, a Democrat representing Salem. “We want to make sure we’re doing our part to mitigate the damage.”
The state’s pilot program has drawn national attention as cities seek greater authority to decarbonize their building sectors. The initiative aligns with Massachusetts’ broader goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, a target that demands deep changes in the energy use of homes and businesses.
Under the current framework, participating municipalities can ban fossil-fuel infrastructure in new construction and major renovations, with some exemptions for hospitals and laboratories. The approach has been seen as a testing ground to gauge the policy’s impact on emissions, energy costs, and housing affordability.
Cities like Somerville and Salem have formally requested inclusion in the expanded program, while officials in Worcester are exploring similar steps.
Massachusetts is not alone in pursuing building electrification policies. New York became the first state to commit to an all-electric building standard earlier this year, though Gov. Kathy Hochul faces political pressure to delay its rollout. Across the country, more than 100 municipalities have adopted local ordinances limiting gas use in new buildings.
Advocates argue that Massachusetts’ pilot could pave the way for all 351 of the state’s municipalities to adopt similar rules, giving cities local flexibility to accelerate climate action.
The bill remains in committee and must pass both chambers of the Legislature. According to state Sen. Michael Barrett, a Democrat and chair of the Legislature’s telecommunications, utilities, and energy committee, the proposal may ultimately be folded into a larger climate or energy package.
“Single-issue bills like this one are rarely approved by the full legislature,” Barrett said, noting that broader packages tend to have a better chance of passage.
The movement toward gas-free construction began in Brookline, which in 2019 became the first Massachusetts community to pass a bylaw banning fossil-fuel systems in new buildings. The state attorney general at the time, Maura Healey — now the governor — overturned the measure in 2020, arguing that municipalities lacked authority to override state building and gas codes.
Despite the setback, Brookline’s effort inspired others. Local advocates like Lisa Cunningham, cofounder of ZeroCarbonMA, continued pressing lawmakers for the right to experiment with fossil-fuel restrictions.
“There’s no point in installing new systems now that will only get more expensive to run and will end up needing to be replaced with electric equipment before too long,” Cunningham said. “It’s basically locking people into these huge energy burdens.”
In 2022, the state approved the 10-town demonstration program, part of a sweeping climate bill signed by then-Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican who voiced reservations about potential impacts on housing supply.
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Critics have long argued that all-electric building requirements would raise construction costs or slow housing production, especially during a statewide housing shortage. But early data from pilot communities suggest otherwise.
Lexington, one of the original participants, has permitted more than 1,100 housing units — including 160 affordable homes — since adopting its gas ban and stricter building codes two years ago.
A 2022 report from RMI, a clean-energy think tank, found that all-electric homes in Boston are actually slightly cheaper to build and operate than mixed-fuel homes. The state has since introduced discounted winter electricity rates for homes with heat pumps, further improving affordability.
“The lowest-hanging fruit is to build all-electric,” Cunningham added. “Doing all these as retrofits is going to be a lot more difficult.”
While the original pilot has been successful, advocates note that most of its 10 participants are small, affluent suburbs. Lisa Cunningham said that expansion is essential to make the program more inclusive and representative of the state’s diversity.
“It restricted it to these much wealthier, much smaller, less diverse communities. That’s just not equitable,” she said.
Barrett echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that adding more participants will yield better data on emissions, public health, and housing outcomes.
“The more data we can get in about the cost of going all-electric, the better off we’ll be,” he said.
Somerville, which has set a goal of becoming carbon-negative by 2050, was the first city to pass a local ordinance in hopes of joining the pilot.
“Having the authority to limit fossil-fuel growth would not only move Somerville toward its goal of being carbon-negative by 2050, but also lower heating costs for some residents and create housing with better air quality,” said Christine Blais, the city’s director of sustainability and environment. “We want to give Somerville residents the best chance to have a good quality of life.”
Salem City Councilor Jeff Cohen supports the expansion but said the pace remains too slow given the scale of the climate crisis.
“It’s time to do something,” Cohen said. “Ten at a time doesn’t seem good enough for me.”
Originally reported by Sarah Shemkus in Canary Media.
