Massachusetts is considering legislation to double the size of a pioneering program that allows municipalities to prohibit fossil fuel systems in new construction. The proposed bill would add another 10 cities and towns to the existing 10-community pilot, which proponents say is already successfully cutting emissions and energy costs without slowing housing development. Cities like Somerville and Salem are eager to join, as the state continues its push toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and gathers more data on the impact of all-electric building mandates.
Lawmakers in Massachusetts are weighing a bill that would expand a pilot program allowing local governments to ban fossil fuels in new buildings. The initiative would grow to include up to 20 communities, building on a program proponents claim has already proven effective at reducing emissions, improving indoor air quality, and lowering household energy expenses without hindering new housing construction. Several municipalities, including Salem, Somerville, and potentially Boston, have expressed strong interest in participating. State Representative Manny Cruz of Salem highlighted the urgency for his coastal district, stating, “We’re a coastal community that’s going to bear the brunt of climate change. We want to make sure we’re doing our part to mitigate the damage.”
This effort is a key component of the state’s broader strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It follows a series of related measures, including a 2022 climate law that established the original 10-town pilot, a 2023 optional building code promoting energy efficiency, and new guidelines for gas utilities to transition toward cleaner energy sources. The move aligns Massachusetts with a national trend, as New York recently became the first state to pass an all-electric building standard, and dozens of other local governments have enacted similar restrictions on gas use in new construction. The bill is currently in committee, and legislative leaders suggest it will likely be incorporated into a larger energy or climate bill rather than being passed on its own.
The current pilot program originated from a 2019 effort by the town of Brookline to pass a bylaw banning new fossil-fuel infrastructure. That local measure was ultimately struck down in 2020 by then-Attorney General Maura Healey, who argued that municipalities could not override state building codes. In response, Brookline and other towns successfully petitioned the state legislature, leading to the creation of the 10-community demonstration program signed into law in 2022. Supporters like Lisa Cunningham of the nonprofit ZeroCarbonMA argue that installing new gas systems is fiscally irresponsible, as it locks residents into rising energy costs for infrastructure that will soon need to be replaced with electric alternatives.
A primary concern raised by opponents has been the potential for all-electric mandates to increase construction costs and worsen the state’s housing shortage. However, early results from the pilot program have not supported these fears. For instance, Lexington, one of the participating towns, has permitted approximately 1,100 new housing units, including 160 affordable homes, in the last two years. Furthermore, a 2022 study by the clean-energy think tank RMI concluded that building and operating an all-electric home in Boston is slightly less expensive than a mixed-fuel home. Recent state-level incentives, such as discounted winter electricity rates for homes using heat pumps, have further improved the economic case for electrification.
Advocates for expanding the pilot emphasize the need for greater equity and more comprehensive data. The initial 10 participating communities are predominantly smaller, wealthier Boston suburbs, which critics say provides a limited and unrepresentative sample. Broadening the program to include more diverse municipalities would provide state officials with more robust data on how these bans affect emissions, public health, and housing markets across different demographic and economic contexts. State Senator Michael Barrett, a supporter of the bill, noted, “The more data we can get in about the cost of going all-electric, the better off we’ll be.”
Local leaders in cities hoping to join the program see it as a critical tool for achieving their own climate and public health goals. Christine Blais, Somerville’s director of sustainability and environment, said the authority to limit fossil fuels would help the city reach its goal of becoming carbon-negative by 2050 while also lowering heating costs and improving air quality for residents. While there is enthusiasm for the expansion, some, like Salem City Councilor Jeff Cohen, believe the pace is too slow. He argues that allowing only 20 of the state’s 351 municipalities to enact gas bans is insufficient to make a meaningful impact on state emissions, stating, “It’s time to do something. Ten at a time doesn’t seem good enough for me.”