Electrify Montgomery County:
For Clean, Green All-Electric Buildings
Victory!
Bill 13-22 for "Comprehensive Building Decarbonization" Passed!
Mandates that almost all new construction is fully electric
Will help meet MoCo's goal of 80% reduction in emissions by 2027
The “Comprehensive Building Decarbonization” legislation – Bill 13-22 – will ensure that all-electric building standards become part of the County’s building code no later than the end of 2026, with limited exceptions for hospitals and other facilities needing emergency backup systems or high-energy industrial or commercial cooking facilities.
In a state – Maryland – committed to a carbon-free electrical grid in coming years, the Montgomery County bill guarantees that almost all new buildings will be equipped with electric hot water systems and heat pumps for space heating and cooling, creating a zero-greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions future. Typically for an urban jurisdiction, buildings account for more than 50% of Montgomery County’s total carbon emissions.
Thank Your MOCO Council Member for Passing Bill 13-22
How It Happened
VICTORY!
DC-Area County of 1 Million People Moves to Eliminate Fossil Fuel Use in New Buildings
Unanimous Vote by Montgomery County Council Sets New Example for Maryland and
Nation as Part of a Growing Trend to 'Electrify Everything' in the Face of Rapid Climate Change
Works Cited:
- Md. Comm’n on Climate Change, Building Energy Transition Plan, Oct. 11, 2021
- U.S. Energy Info. Admin., Winter Fuels Outlook, Oct. 2021
- American Medical Association Resolution 439, adopted 2022 See RMI, Indoor Air Pollution: the Link between Climate and Health (2020)
- Stanford University Press Release, Stanford scientists find the climate and health impacts of natural gas stoves are greater than previously thought (2022)
Key Articles:
- BREAKING: MoCo Council votes to mandate all-electric new buildings by 2026
- Maryland’s Largest County Just Banned Gas Appliances in Most New Buildings—But Not Without Some Concessions
- Study: Md. will need massive investment in low-income housing retrofits to meet aggressive climate goals
- Top Seven Building Decarbonization Wins You May Have Missed in 2022
Related Campaigns: Electrify Maryland