Salem Home Rule Petition to Participate in Pilot Program

The Salem City Council unanimously voted to submit a home rule petition to adopt an ordinance that would require new building construction or major renovation projects to be fossil fuel free. This is part of Salem’s effort to participate in a new pilot program, established as part of the Massachusetts clean energy and climate bill (H.5060), which allows ten cities and towns to prohibit the use of fossil fuels in new construction or major renovation projects.

For a new construction project or major renovation to be fossil fuel free, the entire building must not use coal, oil, natural gas, other fuel hydrocarbons, or other fossil fuels in support of its operation after construction.

If the home rule petition is approved, Salem will be able to enforce restrictions and prohibitions on new construction and major renovations, including through the withholding or conditioning of building permits.

Salem joins twelve other Massachusetts communities that have submitted home rule petitions to create ordinances that restrict the use of fossil fuels in new construction and major renovation projects. Salem meets the eligibility requirements to participate in the pilot program. Eligible communities must have:

• Met the 10% subsidized housing inventory threshold under 40B; or
• Has approved a zoning ordinance or by-law that provides for at least one district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted by right

The pilot program will be overseen by the Department of Energy Resources. Updates, including the status of Salem’s home rule petition, will be posted on the NSR blog.