By Taalin RaoShah
On July 22nd, the City Council held a virtual hearing on amendments to the Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), proposed by Councilor Matt O’Malley. The new legislation, the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO 2.0), would cover more buildings, implement a strong building emissions performance standard, and include provisions for equity and inclusion. As Councilor O’Malley pointed out in his opening remarks, buildings account for over 70% of the city’s emissions. This policy would prevent roughly 37 million metric tons of carbon emissions over the next thirty years and would lay out a path to make Boston’s building sector carbon-free by 2050.
The hearing opened up by giving the floor to city officials. Almost all of the City Councilors present seemed to back the legislation, with particularly strong words of support from Councilors Wu, Mejia, Breadon, and Edwards. Some of the councilors made sure to thank the organizations that had been working hard to advocate for BERDO 2.0, and Councilors O’Malley and Mejia mentioned the Mass. Sierra Club specifically.
Next, Chief White-Hammond of the Energy, Environment and Open Space (EEOS) Department provided a concise overview of how BERDO 2.0 was developed to incorporate a smart policy design aiming to improve equity, public health, and workforce development in Boston. She reiterated her office’s commitment to working with affected businesses and building owners to help them achieve compliance, emphasizing that this policy is not about being punitive but about working together to get where we need to be.
After the institutional panel which included messages of support from business leaders on the Green Ribbon Commission, the floor was opened up to advocates from the public. Almost everyone testifying spoke strongly in favor of BERDO 2.0. A young group of high schoolers from Chinese Progessive Association spoke movingly about the impacts of poor air quality in their neighborhood, especially on young people with asthma. Andee Krasner of Mothers Out Front JP and Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility (GBPSR) noted that emissions from buildings alone lead to $8.4 billion in annual health costs for the state.
Numerous other students and advocates from organizations like the Boston Climate Action Network (BCAN) and Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE) voiced their strong support for BERDO 2.0. However, some also emphasized the importance of limiting carbon offsets as a form of compliance, especially those that are not local Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). Furthermore, many advocates argued that BERDO 2.0 should not be watered-down, and that additional resources be allocated to ensure enforcement of the policy. Finally, David Heimann of the Mass. Sierra Club offered praise for BERDO 2.0 and his support for its passage, while also urging the city to develop a plan to prevent displacement of low-income renters and gentrification in Boston’s communities.
While almost everyone present spoke in favor of BERDO 2.0, business membership organization, A Better City, expressed reservations.
Overall, the hearing was a big success for BERDO 2.0, whose supporters from the city, students, business community, and advocacy organizations vastly outnumbered the one or two hesitant voices.