No one questions the need to curtail our dependence on fossil fuels.
But is an electrification proposal going before the Newton City Council tomorrow (Feb. 9) ready to be part of the solution? Under the proposal before the Public Facilities Committee, all new residential properties and small commercial buildings (more on that below) would be required to be all-electric (with the exception – perhaps -- of allowing gas cooking).
Existing properties that are "substantially remodeled or rehabilitated" would also be banned from using high carbon emitting fuels -- like natural gas and oil -- and required to convert the entire building to all-electric.
Variations of these rules have been approved in Brookline, Arlington, Lexington, Acton and Concord but, as would be the case in Newton, all await home rule approval from Beacon Hill.
This proposal raises a lot of questions
For starters, how would an electrification mandate impact the already insufficient affordability and availability of housing, especially for lower income residents, or the cost of running a business? If the top floors of an apartment building are "substantially remodeled," does the business on the first floor need to go all electric too?
Also: How will it impact Newton’s ability to be competitive if neighboring communities don’t have similar rules?
And as demand for electricity grows, grid operators are increasingly relying on dirty fuel sources -- oil, coal and shipped-in liquified natural gas – to power their plants.
One day, we can expect electricity will be generated increasingly with renewable sources like solar and wind, but that process is moving alarmingly slow.
Still, perhaps this proposal is a step Newton should take now to make sure more of our properties are ready for that day when our grid is cleaner, except...
Here’s the part I really don’t get
But the part I really don’t get is the fact that this new regulation would only apply to small non-residential buildings, defined as less than 20,000 square feet.
Ann Berwick, Mayor Fuller’s co-director of sustainability, says that’s because the city also hopes to adopt a policy that would eventually regulate large properties similar to a building regulation adopted in Boston known as BERDO.
“No BERDO decisions have been made," Bewick tells me, "and there are no BERDO-related drafts” waiting for the council to review.
In other words, the city is essentially looking to approve a half strategy -- placing the burden on small properties owners -- before deciding what to ask of the bigger players later.
Feels backwards, right?
At minimum, this draftneeds work. Better yet: Let's adopt state wide regulations that would level the playing field and be better for our planet.
The need is urgent need for donors of all types, but especially Type O. Here's a few ways you can help address this critical shortage:
Donate at the Kraft Family BloodDonor Center: Eligible donors can make an appointment to give blood or platelets by calling 617-632-3206, emailing BloodDonor@partners.org or booking an appointment online (new users will be prompted to create an account). Walk-ins are welcome. For blood drive inquiries, email BloodDonor@partners.org. View a calendar of upcoming blood drives hosted by the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center.
Registration for the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup, happening April 22 and 23, is now open. Past cleanup locations include areas of the Charles River in and around all our communities. Learn how you can organize a team from your office here
Babson College’s Graduate Office of Experiential Learning is accepting proposals until Feb. 15 from organizations for its May 2022 programs. The program matches up organizations with student consulting teams.
The MBTA is holding two virtual public hearings, Feb. 10 and Feb. 17, to discuss a series of proposed fare changes. Details.
It's not just toilet paper, pantries are stocked
Here’s another way the pandemic may have permanently changed us: Our pantries are stocked.
Retailers and analysts predicted bulk buying for the pandemic’s early days would subside once people returned to work; stores were able to restock and vaccinations became widespread; writes Lisa Bannon at the Wall Street Journal.
“Even if somebody waves a magic wand and makes COVID go away completely, we still expect elevated consumption in the home because people are accustomed to working from home, and hybrid work is here to stay,” says Krishnakumar Davey, president of client engagement at research firm IRI.
Last year, sales of chest freezers in the U.S. more than doubled too.
We're headed back to Woodland
Save Aug. 1 for our 31st annual golf tournament, returning to Woodland Golf Club.
Our tournament -- which benefits a different nonprofit each year -- is always a quick sell out and an excellent opportunity to mix and mingle with local business leaders while playing at a top-notch golf course and supporting a great cause.
Registration opens in a few weeks. If you want to lock in your spot before we open up registration, consider sponsoring the event to both secure a foursome and exclusive promotional benefits.
Finally this morning, please say hello to Maxime Issac, the newest member of your chamber team.
Maxime is our new Member Services Manager which means he's your first point of contact to help you access our many chamber resources and benefits. He also manages the chamber’s digital platforms such as the website and social media and will be working closely with our Dining Collaborative.
Maxime’s a native Bostonian and son of a small business owner and loves connecting and supporting small business owners throughout our region. He’s a graduate of Suffolk University with a degree and experience in journalism.
