Members of the Maryland House of Delegates are preparing to reintroduce the “Better Buildings Act,” which would ban the use of fossil fuels for water and space heating in new construction and major renovations, mandate a glide path to zero energy buildings as well as installation of electric vehicle charging and solar infrastructure.
Prince George’s County Delegate Adrian Boafo is the lead sponsor of the bill which was drafted by members of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and other climate non-profit organizations.
Beyond the fossil fuel ban, major provisions of the current working draft include:
- Solar-ready requirements for buildings up to 20 stories in height.
- Installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in all use groups, including 100% of parking spaces in multifamily.
- Energy Use Intensity limits would require new buildings 25,000 square feet or larger to average no more than 45,000 BTU per square foot beginning in 2026 and step down to net zero energy balance by 2035. For buildings four stories or less, the limit starts at 32,000 BTU per square foot and requires net zero by 2035.
A recent article from Inside Climate News chronicled how the change in administration at the federal level has climate activists around the country expecting Maryland to lead some climate initiatives as more responsibility for the energy transition is transferred to the states.
The Better Buildings Act will be one of many aggressive funding and regulatory proposals presented to the Maryland General Assembly for consideration during the 2025 session.