A sweeping Massachusetts climate and energy bill recently signed into law by Republican governor Charlie Baker allows local bans on fossil fuel-powered appliances.
The controversial measure survived debate in the state legislature. It makes it legal for 10 municipalities to ban fossil fuel-powered appliances in new buildings. A requirement that cities meet affordable housing quotas before they can ban fossil fuel infrastructure in new buildings, helped sway the governor who was wary of allowing bans of fossil fuel appliances. Another provision precludes life sciences labs and health care facilities from being affected by the bans, making the law more palatable to some lawmakers.
The law also requires electric utilities to buy 5,600 megawatts of new offshore wind capacity by 2027, up from a former goal of 4,000 megawatts. It also removes a controversial price cap that required every new wind project to offer cheaper electricity than the previous one.
Other parts of the bill aim to shore up the electric grid, decarbonize the Boston-area transit system by 2040, and require all new cars sold in the state to be zero-emissions by 2035.
Related Stories
MFPRO+ News | Dec 11, 2023
U.S. poorly prepared to house growing number of older adults
The U.S. is ill-prepared to provide adequate housing for the growing ranks of older people, according to a report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Over the next decade, the U.S. population older than 75 will increase by 45%, growing from 17 million to nearly 25 million, with many expected to struggle financially.
Office Buildings | Dec 11, 2023
Believe it or not, there could be a shortage of office space in the years ahead
With work-from-home firmly established, many real estate analysts predict a dramatic reduction in office space leasing and plummeting property values. But the high-end of the office segment might actually be headed for a shortage, according to real estate intelligence company CoStar Group.
University Buildings | Dec 8, 2023
Yale University breaks ground on nation's largest Living Building student housing complex
A groundbreaking on Oct. 11 kicked off a project aiming to construct the largest Living Building Challenge-certified residence on a university campus. The Living Village, a 45,000 sf home for Yale University Divinity School graduate students, “will make an ecological statement about the need to build in harmony with the natural world while training students to become ‘apostles of the environment’,” according to Bruner/Cott, which is leading the design team that includes Höweler + Yoon Architecture and Andropogon Associates.
Giants 400 | Dec 5, 2023
Top 50 Federal Government Building Construction Firms for 2023
Fluor, BL Harbert, Hensel Phelps, and Turner Construction top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest federal government building general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 5, 2023
Top 70 Federal Government Building Architecture Firms for 2023
Page Southerland Page, HOK, Gensler, LEO A DALY, and Stantec top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest federal government building architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
University Buildings | Dec 5, 2023
The University of Cincinnati builds its largest classroom building to serve its largest college
The University of Cincinnati’s recently completed Clifton Court Hall unifies the school’s social science programs into a multidisciplinary research and education facility. The 185,400-sf structure is the university’s largest classroom building, serving its largest college, the College of Arts and Sciences.
MFPRO+ News | Dec 5, 2023
DOE's Zero Energy Ready Home Multifamily Version 2 released
The U.S. Department of Energy has released Zero Energy Ready Home Multifamily Version 2. The latest version of the certification program increases energy efficiency and performance levels, adds electric readiness, and makes compliance pathways and the certification process more consistent with the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction (ESMFNC) program.
Giants 400 | Nov 28, 2023
Top 55 Laboratory Construction Firms for 2023
Whiting-Turner, DPR Construction, STO Building Group, Skanska, and Hensel Phelps top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest laboratory general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Contractors | Nov 28, 2023
Swinerton’s special projects units allow the national GC to operate like a local boutique firm
Swinerton’s Carolinas Division has been particularly successful in attracting jobs that require a nimble touch.
Engineers | Nov 27, 2023
Kimley-Horn eliminates the guesswork of electric vehicle charger site selection
Private businesses and governments can now choose their new electric vehicle (EV) charger locations with data-driven precision. Kimley-Horn, the national engineering, planning, and design consulting firm, today launched TREDLite EV, a cloud-based tool that helps organizations develop and optimize their EV charger deployment strategies based on the organization’s unique priorities.
