Electrification Proposal To Go Before Newton City Council

Newton MA

08 February, 2022

1:32 PM

Description

NEWTON, MA — The latest draft of the electrification Home Rule Petition is set to go before the Newton City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 9. If passed by the Massachusetts Legislature, the Home Rule Petition will allow Newton to move forward with an ordinance that would require all residential and small commercial development and major renovations to use electricity instead of fossil fuels for heating, cooling, and hot water. "In Newton, more than 60% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from our homes, apartments, and commercial buildings," said Mayor Ruthanne Fuller in a statement. "So, the way we heat and cool these buildings, heat our water, and keep the lights on matters as we work to 'Use Less and Green the Rest.'" "Thankfully, by using cleaner and greener electricity generated increasingly with renewable sources (solar and wind), we can reduce greenhouse gases emissions caused by fossil fuels, the major cause of climate change," she continued. Similar rules have been approved in Brookline Arlington, Lexington, Acton, and Concord. However, they are all still waiting for approval from the state. To attend Wednesday's Public Facilities Committee meeting via Zoom, click here.