Brookline Town Meeting requests sweeping local climate authority

BROOKLINE—December 1, 2022

With the support of ZeroCarbonMA, Brookline Town Meeting just passed a package of legislation requesting sweeping climate authority from the Massachusetts State Legislature to support building electrification. This Municipal Climate Empowerment Plan legislation follows Brookline’s previous effort to acquire municipal authority to prohibit the installation of new fossil fuel infrastructure in major construction. 

The package requests the authority to:

1. Empower Gas Utilities to unlock investment in electrification and energy storage.

2. Impose a progressive methane tax, the first of its kind.

3. Expand municipal authority over electricity, enabling Community Choice Aggregation programs to support electrification and help reduce the cost of electricity

4. Provide low interest municipal loans to finance electrification, modeled on the state’s existing septic betterment program

5. Impose sustainable building standards in the form of zoning bylaws even if they exceed those mentioned in the building code.

“This groundbreaking package creates the tools to help all of us switch to a clean electric-powered future. Burning fuels in our cars and homes is the source of essentially all of Brookline’s carbon emissions. And our gas stoves are exacerbating childhood asthma at unprecedented rates, much like lead paint and asbestos were poisoning our children last century. It’s time to switch off the gas, and this package helps us do exactly that.” Said Wendy Stahl, physician and member of Brookline's Zero Emissions Advisory Board. 

“The passage of these sweeping measures is the latest illustration of how climate action can be accelerated by municipal will.” said Jesse Gray, Chair of Brookline’s Zero Emissions Advisory Board.

“Consider the homeowner whose boiler or hot water heater needs replacement. These are 25 year appliances. So we need to put programs, education and incentives in place now to help them electrify and not invest in yet another fossil fuel device that will last far past when we need to be net zero. This package would fund those programs, while at the same time using surcharges to create a “price signal” or a “nudge” to help everyone make the best choice for themselves and the world.” Said David Mendels, member of ZeroCarbonMA. 

“We need to do more to help our most at-risk residents transition off of oil and gas, and to educate our community about the dangers of continued use and reliance on fossil fuels. These articles propose progressive mechanisms to help our town achieve our climate goals. Our house is on fire, and we need to call for help. This package is the 9 in 911.” Said Lisa Cunningham, architect and co-founder of ZeroCarbonMA.