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Date: 9/20/2022
NORTHAMPTON – During a meeting on Sept. 15, the Northampton City Council introduced a home rule petition regarding special legislation for a fossil fuel free approach to future new construction in the city. Under current regulations, towns and cities across Massachusetts do not have the ability to adopt building codes and regulations, including those that would allow the elimination of fossil fuels from buildings and meet legally binding emission targets.
The petition presented by the council, and specifically sponsored by Ward 7 Councilor Rachel Maiore and At-Large Councilor Marissa Elkins, considers the possibility of an ordinance that may require new or substantially remodeled or rehabilitated buildings to use electricity for all building energy needs.
To even consider a local ordinance, however, requires the city to vote positively on the home rule petition so it can be sent to state lawmakers for approval. Essentially, the petition asks the state to give Northampton permission to institute an ordinance around fossil fuel free new construction. The Council hopes to vote on this petition during their October meeting.
Should this petition pass in October and head to the state level, Northampton would join other municipalities across the state who have made similar home rule petition requests.
“It’s very important that we demonstrate our commitment to meeting our sustainability goals that were put forth not only in the Energy & Sustainability Plan, but also I think every single one of us in here and the mayor have voiced even higher aspirations and urgency to what we need to do,” said Elkins. “By joining the ranks of other municipalities who are doing this, I think we send an important message to Boston to say that cities like Northampton are ready to make a commitment.”
Elkins added that the city’s Energy & Sustainability Committee has been “incredibly vital” in developing and drafting the petition and keeping the council educated on the other municipalities doing this.
A new clean energy law Gov. Charlie Baker signed last month creates a pilot program allowing 10 municipalities to limit the use fossil fuels in their local business sectors. A city must have 10 percent of its housing stock classified as affordable to be considered for one of the 10 cities. Boston was the most recent city as of press time to submit a similar petition to the state and is 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 a spot in the program if another city or town drops out.
“I think there could be a growing momentum with this that could lead the fundamental changes at the state level, which I’m very excited for,” said Maiore.
Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said during the meeting that she is looking forward to crafting the actual language of an ordinance to send forward to the state if the home rule petition is approved by the council. “This is one of my top priorities,” said Sciarra, as Northampton continues its pursuit of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. “Creating housing and sustainability are two of the most important things we’re working on.”
“No matter what the realities or the difficulty as a procedural matter of getting a home rule petition through, I want to make it really clear, that by being clear-eyed about [the petition], we are ready to go and fight for this,” said Elkins. “Whatever it takes, when it comes time to go to Boston and talk to our legislators … we here have the leadership … to make this case.”