Massachusetts’ Governor Must Act to Secure Clean, Affordable Buildings

The document critiques Governor Charlie Baker's veto of bill S.2995, which proposed a voluntary net-zero stretch code for new construction in Massachusetts. It argues that electrification is the most cost-effective path to meeting the state's 2050 net-zero carbon emissions target, citing state analysis and RMI research showing that all-electric single-family homes in Boston are already cheaper to build and operate than gas-powered ones. The text highlights that net-zero affordable housing is already viable in the state and warns that continuing to invest in Massachusetts' aging gas pipeline infrastructure—estimated to require $15.5 to $16.6 billion in repairs—is a poor financial decision for ratepayers.

• Massachusetts state analysis indicates that eliminating building emissions is essential to reach the state's goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the 2030 Clean Energy and Climate Plan identifying electrification and energy efficiency as the most feasible and cost-effective methods.
• Delaying the adoption of a net-zero building code has significant climate implications; emissions from new buildings are projected to grow seven-fold by 2050 under the current base code, or triple if a net-zero code is delayed until 2030.
• Research from RMI indicates that constructing a new all-electric single-family home in Boston is currently less expensive than building with gas and provides residents with $1,600 in savings over 15 years, including utility costs.
• Maintaining and repairing Massachusetts' aging gas pipeline infrastructure is a major financial burden, with the Applied Economics Clinic estimating repair costs between $15.5 billion and $16.6 billion, which would take over 90 years to pay off.
• Net-zero affordable housing is already being implemented in Massachusetts, with examples including the 62-unit 370 Harvard Street project in Brookline and the 98-unit Finch Cambridge project completed in 2020.

APA

RMI (2021). Massachusetts’ Governor Must Act to Secure Clean, Affordable Buildings. https://rmi.org/resources/massachusetts-governor-must-act-to-secure-clean-affordable-buildings/

Chicago

RMI. Massachusetts’ Governor Must Act to Secure Clean, Affordable Buildings. 2021. https://rmi.org/resources/massachusetts-governor-must-act-to-secure-clean-affordable-buildings/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=RMI |title=Massachusetts’ Governor Must Act to Secure Clean, Affordable Buildings |date=20 January 2021 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/massachusetts-governor-must-act-to-secure-clean-affordable-buildings/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{rmi2021massachusetts, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Massachusetts’ Governor Must Act to Secure Clean, Affordable Buildings}}, publisher = {RMI}, year = {2021}, month = jan, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/massachusetts-governor-must-act-to-secure-clean-affordable-buildings/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }