Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill that would increase the number of cities and towns allowed to ban dirty energy hookups in new construction.
In 2022, the state created a pilot program that allowed 10 municipalities to ban such hookups in major constructions and renovations, per Canary Media. The new bill would allow the addition of up to 10 more communities, and towns like Salem and Somerville have expressed interest in taking part.
Massachusetts has a goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and this program is one path to that goal. But while Salem City Councilor Jeff Cohen supports the bill, he doesn’t think it goes far enough and would like to see even more cities included to make a more meaningful impact on the state’s carbon output…