Strongest New Buildings Electrification Rule Passed in Maryland

Lawmakers from Maryland’s most populous county, a suburb neighboring Washington, unanimously passed the state’s strongest building electrification measure, which will eliminate fossil-fuel use in nearly all new buildings.

The Montgomery County Council’s vote on Tuesday to adopt Bill 13-22 will require the county to adopt all-electric standards for new buildings by 2026. The policy mirrors the energy codes of the nation’s capital, which are set to take effect a year earlier, in 2025.

“We’ve taken a giant step toward cleaner buildings and a better climate today,” said Councilmember Hans Riemer, the bill’s lead sponsor. “We are confident that other Maryland ...