From Advocacy Chair, Debbie Wiedwald

Please pay attention to the time-sensitive alerts & state updates. The NCSG Advocacy Policy Action webpage https://ncsg.memberclicks.net/policy-action#!/ is available to report proposed legislative changes or work trade restrictions. Please educate yourself and your customers on these important issues and vote in upcoming elections. Much thanks to the Northeast HPBA Executive Director Karen Arpino, who presented state updates at the 2023 NCSG convention.

Time Sensitive Alerts Codes & Standards NFPA 211 & UL/ ULC 1391:

Deadline April 13: NFPA 211 15.4.2.3 requesting comments to be sent to the secretary of the standards council to oppose the proposed change making the level 2 inspection about the one flue the customer wants to be addressed. Watch for separate Facebook shortly with NFPA contact information & recommended language.

Deadline April 24: UL/ ULC 1391 Standard for Solid Fuel Fireplace Inserts and Hearth Mounted Stoves for Installation into Factory Built Fireplaces. The preliminary Review period is open for comments through April 24. Please contact Debbie Wiedwald at [email protected] if you want a copy of the UL / ULC 1391 to review.

Time Sensitive Alert - Washington State

Deadline April 23: Washington state – Contact your state Senator immediately. Update from Carolyn Logue, Northwest HPBA lobbyist, WASHINGTON STATE SENATE POISED TO PASS BILL BANNING NEW NATURAL GAS CONNECTIONS IN PARTS OF THE STATE (from NWHPBA Hearth Insights dated March 31)

On March 28, the Washington State Senate Environment and Energy Committee passed ESHB 1589, a bill banning new commercial and residential natural gas connections in the Puget Sound Energy Service area. This means that as of June 30, 2023, any projects not permitted already will be unable to run a natural gas connection to the house or business. This step is far more aggressive than the new state energy code, which will allow gas connections for fireplaces and barbecues.

Puget Sound Energy has promoted this bill as a trade for provisions that would help them more easily meet the carbon reduction requirements of the Clean Energy Transformation Act. However, in addition to the ban on new natural gas connections, which will leave these customers in the cold – literally – when the power goes out, there are significant concerns about the impacts on ratepayers.

NWHPBA has been opposing this bill with a large coalition, but we are nearing the end game and will be doing a full-court press. The next step to stop this bill is to hold it in the Senate rules committee. We have until April 23 (the last day of the session) to stop this bill. Contact your state senator, urging them to vote no and stop ESHB 1589 from becoming law.

Other State Updates:

California

No bans have been created through Legislation, all done through the California Air Resource Board restricting natural gas based on North or South Climate zones. (updated information from Karen Arpino, Executive Director Northeast HPBA)

Colorado

Denver adopted a gas ban starting in 2027 for commercial and multi-family buildings. (updated information from Karen Arpino, Executive Director Northeast HPBA)

Connecticut

Senate Bill 979 passed on March 28 out of the Environment Committee. Allows a town to adopt a residential or commercial building code that is net zero energy.

Idaho

The State of Idaho recently passed HB 106, prohibiting any type of local government from banning certain utility connections. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on March 20. This strengthens existing laws prohibiting local governments from banning natural gas. (from Northwest HPBA Hearth Insights, dated March 31)

Maine

Introduced a Fuel Choice bill. Maine is a wood-friendly state using wood forestation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (updated information from Karen Arpino, Executive Director Northeast HPBA)

Maryland

Howard County passed CB5-2023, which directs the County Executive to report to the County Council with recommendations about changes to the Howard County Building Code that would be needed to require all-electric buildings and ways the County can achieve certain climate goals and ways the County can maximize the use of certain funds and ways the County can maximize certain investments, requiring the Department County Executive to consider specified exemptions and considerations and specific matters regarding system capacity; setting a certain deadline, defining certain terms, requiring the County Executive to offer net zero energy standards for County government-owned buildings, requesting the County Executive to provide an inventory of County buildings and their current energy sources, and generally relating to the Howard County Building Code.

Massachusetts

Legislation allows for a 10 town All Electric Program to adopt and amend zoning ordinances or by-laws to require new construction & major renovations to be fossil fuel–free or all-electric. Note: Major renovations have not been defined yet. The process has stalled as towns wanting to be a part of this program must have 10% affordable housing stock. The initial towns that applied to be part of this program do not qualify based on their availability of affordable housing. (updated information from Karen Arpino, Executive Director Northeast HPBA)

Montana

The State of Montana is advancing SB 208, which would specifically prohibit local governments from banning or limiting energy choices, including natural gas and propane. The bill also prohibits the Montana Department of Labor and Industry from including a prohibition or limitation on using electric, natural gas, propane or any other energy source in the state building code. (from Northwest HPBA Hearth Insights, dated March 31)

New Jersey

Governor Murphy accelerated the plan to achieve 100% clean energy by 2035. (updated information from Karen Arpino, Executive Director Northeast HPBA)

New York

Budget process finishing, which would end fossil fuels (natural gas) in new construction. New York could become the first state to enact a gas ban by law.

Oregon, City of Eugene

A referendum will be placed on the ballot to allow city residents to vote to repeal the council's decision to ban natural gas in new homes. Please educate yourself and your customers about this upcoming voting opportunity.

Pennsylvania

Fuel Choice bill SB 143 passed the Senate in March 2023. The bill is currently in the House Local Government Committee.

Rhode Island

Bill H7374 – All Electric Building Act, would prevent towns and cities from issuing permits for new construction of buildings that are not all electric after December 31, 2023. On March 22, 2022, this bill was voted on and held for further study. (updated information from Karen Arpino, Executive Director Northeast HPBA)

Vermont

Aggressive mandates to reduce/remove all liquid fuel. Burlington bans fossil fuels in new construction, and South Burlington limits connections to gas lines in new construction. He also follows S5, which passed the Senate and is currently in the House Environment & Energy Committee. S5 would establish a credit marketplace related to fuel consumption. S100 Housing Bill passed the Senate on March 31, 2023 – would stop individual cities and towns from enforcing or creating a stricter regulatory structure or code than the state not to increase housing costs (almost like an energy choice bill). (updated information from Karen Arpino, Executive Director Northeast HPBA)

Updated Forced Electrification map courtesy of HPBA - https://www.hpba.org/Advocacy/Electrification