Montgomery County To Require Decarbonized New Construction

Under a new bill, most new buildings will be banned from using natural gas in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift to all-electric power.

1 minute read

December 1, 2022, 5:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


View looking up at multi-story building on commercial street in Bethesda, Maryland

Nicole Glass Photography / Bethesda, Maryland

Writing in DCist, Callan Tansill-Suddath describes a new bill passed in Montgomery County that will require most new buildings to be powered exclusively by electricity. “The Comprehensive Building Decarbonization bill, introduced by outgoing At-Large Councilmember Hans Riemer, will require the County Executive to issue all-electric building standards for most new construction in the county.”

According to the article, “Certain buildings will be exempt from the requirements, including commercial kitchens, crematories, and buildings used for manufacturing.” Some types of buildings will get an additional year to meet the new requirements.

The bill comes on the heels of the county’s June 2021 Climate Action Plan, which sets a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2027.

Tuesday, November 29, 2022 in DCist

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