• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Contact Us

Agency Checklists

Massachusetts Insurance News & Job Opportunities

You are here: Home / State House News / Key Senators Knock Baker’s Stretch Energy Code Plan

Key Senators Knock Baker’s Stretch Energy Code Plan

March 3, 2022 by State House News Service

Insurance Policy Coverage Case in Chelsea Massachusetts


As the Department of Energy Resources launches hearings on its straw proposal for a stretch code update and a new municipal opt-in specialized stretch code, two key senators made clear to Commissioner Patrick Woodcock that they expect “substantial revisions” to the proposals before they take effect later this year.

Sens. Michael Barrett and Cynthia Creem, the chairs of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee and Senate Committee on Global Warming, told Woodcock in a letter released Tuesday that the suite of state code changes the administration hopes will encourage builders to shift from fossil fuel heating in favor of electrification “comes up short” and took issue with the way DOER scheduled the five statutorily required public hearings.

“The straw proposal bars a city or town from mandating all-electric new construction, even after local officials allow for vigorous analysis and debate. For municipalities in Massachusetts and other progressive states, all-electric construction is the favored strategy for decarbonizing new buildings. Barring communities from employing it would be a significant setback,” the senators said. They added, “Bottom line: Despite its unequivocal support of ‘net zero emissions’ by 2050, despite the special challenges of reducing emissions in buildings, and despite having been given a full 18 months by the Legislature to do its work, the Baker Administration has proposed a municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code that comes up short.”

Updating the existing stretch code and creating a new net-zero specialized stretch code for cities and towns to adopt is one step lawmakers required in last year’s climate roadmap law to move Massachusetts towards net-zero emissions by the middle of the century. The law requires the new net-zero code be in place by the end of 2022.

Barrett said he plans to testify Thursday morning alongside municipal officials at the second of five hearings DOER is holding between Wednesday evening and next Tuesday afternoon. The five towns to be represented — Lexington, Concord, Brookline, Arlington and Acton — “are seeking legislative authority to go further than the DOER draft would otherwise allow,” Barrett’s office said.

Barrett and Creem said that by scheduling the hearings the way DOER did, including a Friday evening hearing specific to environmental justice communities, “the Baker Administration is depriving the public of a full opportunity to participate.” 

Primary Sidebar

New Episode

MA Insurance Lawyers

SPONSORED

Career News

Davis & Towle Insurance Group Announces Christopher Nicolopoulos to be CEO: Other Leadership Changes

AAU Announces Hire of Roderiques in Boston, MA

AAU Announces Hire of Roderiques in Boston, MA

MIB Elects New Chair, Vice Chair, and Directors to its Board

Plymouth Rock Home Assurance Corporation Names Colleen Finn as Chief Marketing Officer 

Plymouth Rock Home Assurance Corporation Names Colleen Finn as Chief Marketing Officer 

View More Career News

In Memoriam

In Memoriam: William C. Blanker, Director Emeritus A.I.M. Mutual

In Memoriam: Cheryl Ann (Rounsevell) Kuechler, 1945-2025

In Memoriam: Howard Shea, 1937-2025

Company News

Agency Checklists, Arbella's New Cyber Endorsement, Cyber Extortion Insurance, CyberBullying Insurance, Online Fraud Insurance for Homeowners, Data Breach Insurance for Homeowners, CyberBullying Insurance for your children

Massachusetts RMV Cautions Public to Beware of Text Scams

RMV, AAA Northeast Promote Safe Driving for Teens Ahead of Summer

Arbella Insurance Foundation Launches Annual “Let’s Drive Out Hunger” Program to Raise Funds for Hunger Relief Programs Across New England

Arbella Insurance Foundation Launches Annual “Let’s Drive Out Hunger” Program to Raise Funds for Hunger Relief Programs Across New England

Progressive Drives Small Business Forward with $1 Million in Commercial Vehicle Grants

Footer

Agency Checklists

Contact us

We offer a variety of ways to get help promote your company or product.

Announcements
Email Sponsorships
Partnerships
Custom Collaborations

*Affiliate Disclosure

Please note that any of Agency Checklists’ articles might contain one or more affiliate links. This means that any subsequent purchase resulting from these links may result in a commission for us, but at no additional cost to you. For example, as an Amazon Associate, Agency Checklists earns a commission from all qualifying purchases. By working with affiliates we can continue to keep Agency Checklists subscription free. Thank you for your support.

Explore Our Archives

Copyright © 2025 · Agency Checklists · All rights reserved.

 

Loading Comments...