City Council

Salem City Council Committee on Public Health, Safety and Environment November 28, 2023 Purpose: focused on the specialized opt-in code relating to Massachusetts' energy regulations, particularly in pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050 Attendance: C. Varela, C. Cohen, C Merkl, C. Watson-Felt Mr. Duffy, with the ardent support of Michael Rossi from PSD Consulting, meticulously outlines both the implementation strategy and the overarching objectives of a highly specialized opt-in energy code currently under robust discussion for potential adoption in the city of Salem. This initiative is notably being carried out in strong collaboration with Beverly, reflecting the larger framework of the "Resilient Together Climate Action Plan," which was officially inaugurated in the year 2021. The focal ambition of this comprehensive plan is the ambitious attainment of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050, a significant and challenging goal that is also actively supported by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts along with numerous other municipalities spread across the state. Highlighting the critical importance of this initiative, it is revealed that over fifty percent of Salem’s total greenhouse gas emissions are attributed directly to building emissions. This underlines the indispensable role that stringent energy codes will play in guiding the city towards achieving its net-zero emissions objective. The strategy to electrify both buildings and the transportation sector is identified as a pivotal pathway for substantial emission reductions. This strategy's success is largely contingent upon the progressive and increasing integration of renewable energy sources into the existing electric grid system. Massachusetts, in its proactive approach, offers its cities and towns three distinct choices for energy codes: the base energy code, the stretch code, and the more stringent and newly developed opt-in code. Salem, which has been a stretch code community since the year 2010, has received financial grants exceeding one million dollars from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER). These grants reflect the financial benefits that come with the designation as a green community and the adherence to more rigorous energy standards. The opt-in code, representing the most stringent option, mandates that any new large residential homes over 4,000 square feet utilizing fossil fuels must achieve net-zero energy usage, predominantly through the production of onsite solar energy. Additionally, this code crucially requires that buildings using fossil fuels be pre-wired for future electrification. This provision is designed to facilitate a more cost-effective transition to electric energy use compared to the allowances of the stretch code, which permits mixed fuel buildings without requiring such pre-wiring. The expected adoption date for this opt-in code has been set for July 1, 2024. This timing coincides with the effective date of the stretch code’s updated standards, thereby minimizing the gap between the two codes. Strategically, this alignment also positions Salem with the Department of Energy Resources' new climate leaders’ program, promising additional access to further funding opportunities for municipal projects aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability. In summary, Salem’s transition towards stricter energy codes, particularly through the implementation of the opt- in code, signifies a vital and forward-thinking step towards realizing the city’s environmental goals, which are underpinned by substantial federal and state support. "Electrifying our grid and electrifying our buildings and our transportation is really the key to achieving the emissions reductions we need," exemplifies the fervent commitment to these initiatives. The fruitful partnership between Salem and Beverly, coupled with the financial benefits accrued from being a long-standing stretch code community since 2010, further highlights the multifaceted efforts to secure a sustainable and ecologically responsible future. The video showcases an in-depth presentation where the speaker elaborates on the current climate crisis and the proactive measures being implemented by local councils to tackle it, with a special emphasis on sustainable building practices. The presentation begins with historical context, noting that on December 7th, a crucial order will be submitted to the council as a reaction to alarming data from global studies on climate change. This is supported by findings from the International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), which has identified a critical threshold of a 1.5-degree Celsius increase in global temperatures from pre-industrial levels, beyond which irreversible damage could occur. Alarmingly, the Earth has already reached a 2-degree increase, underscoring the urgency of immediate action. The speaker, alongside Councilor Varela, acting mayor Bob McCarthy, and building inspector Tom St. Pierre, provided an update to the administration on the latest sustainable building codes, particularly highlighting passive house design and LEED Gold certification. Passive house design, which emphasizes energy efficiency through intelligent material use and strategic design, has been underscored as essential due to its accessibility and lower initial costs compared to LEED certification. This approach is pivotal for making significant strides in energy conservation and reducing overall carbon footprints. Furthermore, the presentation highlights a significant project, the canal street station, a private development adhering to sustainable standards that also contributes to stormwater mitigation efforts. In this context, the speaker enumerates various communities that have moved forward with specialized building codes to fight climate change, illustrating a burgeoning trend towards sustainability. These examples serve as a testament to the growing awareness and action being taken at the community level to address the climate crisis. In concluding remarks, the presentation calls for urgent collective action, emphasizing the necessity of adopting specialized building codes, like those discussed, to elevate a community's status as a climate leader. This call to action includes a potent reminder of the substantial impact buildings have on greenhouse gas emissions, which account for a significant portion of overall emissions, and underscores the shared responsibility we have to foster a more sustainable future. The emphasis is placed on the importance of both legislative measures and grassroots initiatives in driving the transition to more sustainable practices. Overall, the speech is a clarion call for immediate and concerted efforts to combat the climate crisis through informed, sustainable building practices and comprehensive policy adoption. The examples cited and the detailed explanations of the sustainable building practices serve to inspire and guide other communities in their journey towards achieving sustainability and mitigating the impacts of climate change.