Mayor Michelle Wu said the new rule will help boost demand for green materials and create new jobs in the green building sector.

An executive order signed by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu bans the use of fossil fuels in new buildings and renovations of city-owned property, reports Nish Amarnath in Smart Cities Dive. “Wu said the move will accelerate Boston’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with buildings accounting for more than 70% of the city’s total carbon emissions, and municipal emissions constituting 2.3% of all those emissions.”
The move could boost demand for low-emissions products and materials. “Wu’s office added that the executive order will pave the way for fresh employment prospects in building construction, design and maintenance.”
The rule applies to city properties, but also includes “a significant rule alteration regarding fossil fuel use in private projects.” Last month, Mayor Wu announced “a specialized climate-friendly state-specific stretch code that mandates new constructions, even those currently using natural gas, to be equipped for future all-electric functionality” that will go into effect in January 2024.
FULL STORY: Boston mayor bans fossil fuels in new city-owned buildings

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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