Built Environment Plus, 2/4/21.
We are calling on the Massachusetts building community to advocate for a Net Zero Stretch Code within the Climate Roadmap Bill now in the Legislature. We need you to call your Senator and Representatives where you live and work, and tell them that based on your building industry expertise that you support the Net Zero Stretch Code in the Bill, S.9.
Governor Baker vetoed the original Climate Roadmap Bill a few weeks ago. Baker identified the inclusion of a net zero code as one of the reasons to veto the Bill at the very end of last session. Legislators need to hear from the building community that we can build net zero buildings today; we are building them affordably today, and they will not stop development in its tracks.
Net Zero buildings generate multiple benefits. They are optimally energy efficient, shift from fossil fuels to electrification (with some exceptions), improve health and resilience, and maximize renewable energy to offset their energy consumption on a net annual basis. Renewable energy can be produced on-site or procured from off-site sources. Using this approach, net zero is being achieved affordably by buildings of all types and sizes.
The bill has returned to the Governor’s desk and he has until February 7th to decide what to do. We want legislatures to be ready and feeling confident with next steps by hearing from this community. We have included relevant contact information for your Senator below based on the town you provided for our sign-on letters. Also follow this link to find your representative here.
Please give them a call today:
Bruce Tarr
Representation: First Essex and Middlesex, Consisting of the city of Gloucester and the towns of Boxford, Essex, Georgetown, Groveland, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Middleton, Newbury, North Andover, precincts 5 to 8, inclusive, Rockport, Rowley, Wenham and West Newbury in the county of Essex; and the towns of North Reading and Wilmington in the county of Middlesex.
Phone: (617) 722-1600
Email: Bruce.Tarr@masenate.gov