Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Demonstration Program

DOER demonstration enabling cities and towns to adopt and amend general or zoning ordinances or by-laws to require new building construction or major renovation projects to be fossil fuel-free.

An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind (St. 2022, c. 179, § 84) requires the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to establish a demonstration project in which cities and towns may adopt and amend general or zoning ordinances or by-laws that require new building construction or major renovation projects to be fossil fuel-free.  The purpose of 225 CMR 24.00 is to establish the framework, requirements, and timeline for cities and towns to participate in the DOER's Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Construction and Renovation Demonstration Project as authorized by St. 2022, c. 179, § 84. 

Table of Contents

Project Acceptance Letters

Conditional Project Acceptance Letters

  • DOER issued conditional project acceptance letters to the following communities:

Applications Submitted by Substitute Communities by November 10, 2023

DOER received applications from two potential substitute communities to participate in the Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Pilot and has determined the applications are complete, in accordance with 225 CMR 24.00. They are currently under review.

Northampton

Somerville

Applications Submitted by September 1, 2023

DOER received applications from nine Prioritized Communities to participate in the Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Pilot and has determined that the applications are complete, in accordance with 225 CMR 24.00. They are currently under review.

Acton

Aquinnah

Arlington

Brookline

Cambridge

Concord

Lexington

Lincoln

Newton

 

DOER received one letter of withdrawal from a Prioritized Community.

West Tisbury

Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Project Regulation and Model Rule Development

 

Final Regulations Filed with the Secretary of State

On July 18, 2023, the DOER filed its final version of the 225 CMR 24.00 Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Construction and Renovation Demonstration Project with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office. the DOER expects the regulations to be published in the State Register on August 4, 2023. 

The final UNOFFICIAL version of the regulations that were filed and the associated guidelines can be found below.

If you have any questions, please direct them to green.communities@mass.gov and include “CITY/TOWN NAME: FFF Pilot” in the subject line.

Applications may also be submitted to green.communities@mass.gov with “CITY/TOWN NAME: FFF Pilot” in the subject line.

225 CMR 24.00

Regulation filing document

Final Regulations Filed for Review by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

On June 14, 2023, the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy issued its report on the regulations, and took no formal position on the substance of the regulations. Thus, the final regulations are identical to those referred to the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy in May. The Department will file the final regulations with the Secretary of State not earlier than 30 days after June 14.

TUE Filing Document

225 CMR 24.00

Regulations Filed for Review by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

On May 10, 2023, DOER sent a notice to stakeholders to inform them that DOER had filed amended draft regulations with the House and Senate for review by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy for the Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Construction and Renovation Demonstration Project. The amended draft regulations, along with a response to comments and model rule, can be seen below.

TUE Filing Document 

225 CMR 24.00 (CLEAN)

225 CMR 24.00 (REDLINE)

Response to Comments 

Model Rule - Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Project

Draft Regulations Published

DOER has published its draft regulation and a model rule for public comment.

A virtual public hearing was held on February 8, 2023 to receive verbal comments on the proposed regulation and model rule. 

Written Comments

Written comments were accepted until 5 PM on February 10. Public comments are posted here.

Additional Resources

Date published: December 23, 2022

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