Call to Action: Weigh In About Boston's Climate Action Plan
We call your attention to the recent City of Boston initiative related to Mayor Wu’s 2030 Climate Action Plan. We, too, have a Call to Action – please weigh in on the survey link provided below.
In the 60+ page draft, Mayor Wu demands net-neutrality by 2030, regardless of the cost.
We all support climate change-based precautions and hope to meaningfully contribute. However, what is realistic until the electrical grid expands and further green energy technology is realized? We cannot achieve the impossible. Will our apartments be potentially penalized for lack of compliance with today’s energy standards, despite many being decades old?
The Climate Action Plan proposes the following changes for existing housing units:
Proposes a new ‘Green Label” system to score buildings and apartment units on climate compliance
Landlords could face penalties for non-compliant units
Creates The Boston Climate Council
Initiates the Office of Green Infrastructure
Proposes the elimination of gas stoves
The link to the Climate Action Plan is here: https://www.boston.gov/departments/environment/boston-climate-action
Please take the time to register your feedback by taking the survey here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAAUY19gq6UT0u0kh6Ffghg1IzlKqz1jMxj-w1VOdHeTJYEg/viewform
A formal comment period will be brought forward; however, it is important to note your objection to this plan immediately with the online survey. Priorities like Boston’s Climate Action Plan start with voluntary participation, then quickly may become mandatory.
An action plan like this could threaten the financial stability of Boston housing providers who are already struggling with demands for rent control, rising costs on every operational level, and the daily difficulties we are facing with across-the-board inflation and high interest rates.
When the City of Boston is facing tax revenue challenges, why are new compliance departments being created to energy score apartment units? Boston is a historic city – new construction is exempted for ten years. It is existing housing that will pay the price for draconian compliance - older buildings which are unable to compete with energy scoring.
That’s the proposal on the drawing board. Please see this article from MASS Live: https://www.massdailynews.com/posts/124.
Please register your thoughts with the online survey.
We will keep our membership informed about the City of Boston’s Climate Action Plan.
