Expand the 10 Community Fossil Fuel Free Program

What does the Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration program do?

The Fossil Fuel Free demonstration program enables cities and towns to require new buildings and major renovations to be fossil fuel free.

It uses the DOER (Department of Energy Resources) Opt-in Specialized Code, and simply requires that only the all-electric pathway is used (see this link for an easy chart comparison).  

• Affects new construction and major renovations (Level 3 alterations) ONLY.

• Affects about 0.25-0.5% of building emissions per year.

• Requires community Affordable Housing minimums  in order to participate.

• Produces healthier buildings without toxic air quality.    

• Produces buildings which are less expensive to build and operate. 

• Exempts: laboratories and medical facilities (these are regulated under the Opt-in Specialized Code)

• Allows: exterior generators.

• Avoids future disruptive, time-consuming and expensive retrofits, while keeping our buildings healthier and safer.

What doesn’t the FFF Demonstration do?

• Does NOT require any community to opt into an all-electric code.  This is a voluntary opt-in program, like the Specialized Code, requiring a municipal vote to join. Of note, the votes to adopt this legislation by the current communities in the program were unanimous or near-unanimous.

• Does NOT require any additional building codes, knowledge or training from Building Department officials and building professionals, as it is based entirely on the existing Massachusetts Stretch and Specialized Codes.  Furthermore, this study and other recent studies  (two cited out of many) show the cost benefits of going all-electric without including the substantial benefits of MassSave incentives, which make the all-electric pathway even more economically favorable.  

• Does NOT affect minor retrofits or repairs - only major construction (new and Level 3 alterations).