Boston is officially ending its reliance on fossil fuels in government-owned buildings after Mayor Michelle Wu signed a new executive order banning their use in all new municipal construction and renovation projects across the city.

In a press statement released on July 31st, Wu told reporters: “Week after week, we see the signs of extreme heat, storms, and flooding that remind us of a closing window to take climate action. The benefits of embracing fossil fuel-free infrastructure in our City hold no boundary across industries and communities, and Boston will continue using every possible tool to build the green, clean, healthy, and prosperous future our city deserves.” 

The initiative is part of a larger Green New Deal for Boston, which takes aim at various issues surrounding topics in the built environment. Boston’s stock of municipal buildings is currently responsible for only 2.3% of emissions city-wide, and proponents say the new mandate will help speed their overall decarbonization while ensuring the delivery of all new projects (anything already under construction was exempted) aligns with the Green New Deal’s ulterior goals of “creating high-quality jobs, improving public health and quality of life, and advancing racial and economic justice.”

The ordinance covers any renovation work where structural overhauls are planned for more than 75% of the building’s total square footage. The replacement of HVAC and hot water systems is also included forthwith to be done without incorporating fossil fuel combustion, along with any and all cooking equipment. Its implementation will be supported by the launch of a new Facilities Condition Assessment meant to identify any further potential decarbonization projects.

A total of $132.51 million has been allotted in the city’s FY 24-29 Capital plan for new projects that “advance decarbonization.” The new executive order also supplements the city’s Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (or BERDO), which covers all structures larger than 20,000 square feet and calls for the full attainment of net-zero emissions by the year 2050.