Committee Contacts:

The Select Board voted on July 16, 2018, to establish a Clean Energy Future Committee (CEFC). The mission of the CEFC is to guide the Town of Arlington to a future where, by 2050, net emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases attributable to all sources in Town are zero. The Committee is charged with identifying short and long-term energy goals; facilitating research studies, projects, and collaborations; enlisting the support of residents and businesses; recommending changes to laws and regulations; seeking state and local funding; and taking any other actions necessary for Arlington to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Demonstration Program

Arlington has been accepted into the Municipal Fossil Fuel-Free Building Demonstration Program (Demonstration Program) to prohibit the use of fossil fuels in new construction and major renovations in our community. The Massachusetts Legislature authorized the creation of this Demonstration Program in 2022.

Arlington's Fossil Fuel Free Bylaw takes effect on May 21, 2024, 90 days following the MA Department of Energy Resources' (DOER's) approval of the Town's participation in the Demonstration Program. 

2023 Special Town Meeting voted to update and re-enact the 2020 Clean Heat Bylaw, which enabled the Town's participation in the Demonstration Program.

Specialized Stretch Energy Code

The Specialized Stretch Energy Code (Specialized Code) takes effect in Arlington on January 1, 2024.

2023 Town Meeting voted to approve the Specialized Code. The CEFC sponsored the warrant article requesting this vote because the Specialized Code will support the Town’s goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and is a metric of success in the Town’s 2021 Net Zero Action Plan. 

An educational public forum on the Specialized Stretch Energy Code was held on March 1, 2023, from 7:00-8:30pm on Zoom.

The CEFC compiled an overview document highlighting information about the Specialized Stretch Energy Code that is most relevant to Arlington residents. The following resources provide further information about the opt-in Specialized Stretch Code as well as the updated Stretch Energy Code:

Net Zero Planning

In February 2021, the CEFC completed a Net Zero Action Plan to guide Arlington to net zero greenhouse gas pollution by 2050. Arlington partnered with the City of Melrose, Town of Natick and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) on a joint project to develop greenhouse gas inventories and net zero plans for all three communities.

The Net Zero Action Plan is available here. Arlington’s 2020 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which is based on 2017 data, is available here. The methodology and data sources used for the Greenhouse Gas Inventory are described in a summary document. Further details on this joint planning project are available on MAPC’s website.

One of the high priority strategies of the Net Zero Action Plan is to support the implementation of Connect Arlington, the Sustainable Transportation Plan. Connect Arlington includes a robust and detailed explanation of existing transportation conditions and goals and strategies for the transportation system in Arlington. The CEFC is an implementing partner for Connect Arlington along with the Master Plan Implementation Committee, Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee, and Transportation Advisory Committee. View the Connect Arlington plan.

Prohibition on Fossil Fuel Infrastructure in New Construction and Major Renovations

The CEFC supports a prohibition on fossil fuel infrastructure in new construction and major renovations because it would help Arlington achieve the Town’s goal of reducing carbon pollution to net zero by 2050. A major focus of the Net Zero Action Plan (see above on this page) is to reduce or eliminate the combustion of carbon-intensive fossil fuels for heating and transportation.

The CEFC, in concert with Sustainable Arlington and Mothers Out Front (working together as the "Clean Heat for Arlington" Coalition, successfully advocated for a new Town bylaw that would prohibit fossil fuel infrastructure in new construction and major renovations. Warrant Article 5, which included both the proposed fossil fuel bylaw and an accompanying Home Rule Petition requesting state legislative authorization for Arlington to regulate fossil fuel use in buildings, passed at a Special Town Meeting session on November 18, 2020. Read Arlington's 2020 Clean Heat Bylaw.

A public information session on the bylaw was held on Thursday February 27, 2021. ACMi recorded the information session, and the recording is available on their website.

The legislature did not grant Arlington and several other communities’ Home Rule Petitions; rather, it created a Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Project allowing up to 10 communities to implement fossil-fuel free policies. Arlington intends to qualify and apply for this Demonstration project. Learn more about the Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Project.

More information about clean heating systems, alternatives to fossil fuel technologies, and Electrify Arlington campaign

There are effective and affordable alternatives to heating systems fueled by natural gas, oil or propane. Modern cold climate heat pumps provide both heating and cooling without on-site combustion of fossil fuels. They can heat both small and large spaces, as well as domestic hot water. For example, Arlington’s new High School will be heated exclusively with heat pumps. More information on heat pumps and other clean heating technologies is available at Arlington’s HeatSmart campaign website. The HeatSmart campaign officially operated from 2019-2020.

The CEFC, in collaboration with the Town and community partners, has also launched the Electrify Arlington campaign to power buildings and transportation in Arlington with clean electricity. This campaign is a high priority action from the Net Zero Action Plan and directly supports the goal of net zero GHG emissions by 2050. Visit the Electrify Arlington webpage to learn more.