local, state, and federal legislation and government news affecting green home building

August Legislative Update

A roundup of local, state, and federal legislation and government news affecting green home building.

By:

Jennifer Goodman

Nonprofits Lobbying for Climate Bill 
Environmental activists are ratcheting up the pressure this summer on senators who punted on a sweeping climate and energy bill despite slim chances that broad legislation will pass this year. (The New York Times)

Loan Program for Green Home Upgrades Stalls
Many projects have been left in limbo after regulators and lenders raised alarms over terms of the Property Assessed Clean Energy program. (The Los Angeles Times)

26 Groups Support EPA Right-to-Know Policy for Chemical Hazards
Health, labor, and environmental organizations have voiced support for a change in an EPA policy that denied public access to information the agency receives from the chemical industry. (Environmental Protection)

Pennsylvania Solar Lobbyist Faces Challenges Pushing Legislation
For the last two years, Maureen Mulligan has worked to persuade Pennsylvania lawmakers to embrace her renewable energy message; as sunset nears on another legislative year in Harrisburg, she is still without success. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

San Anselmo, Calif., Approves Revised Green Building Ordinance
The law would require that all new home construction and all remodels over $300,000 go through the Build It Green system. (San Anselmo-Fairfax Patch)

San Jose City Planners Ask Developer to Increase Project's Density  
 The Ohlone mixed-use project will go from two 11-story towers and one six-story structure to three 11-story towers, with the number of living units increasing from 649 to 700 and from 100 to 104 units per acre. (The San Jose Mercury News)

North Carolina Ordinance Targets Construction Debris
The recently adopted Chatham County law aims to reduce the amount of construction and demolition debris headed to North Carolina landfills. (Chatham Journal Weekly)

Brunswick County, N.C., Plans for Growing Renewable Energy Use
Ordinances to address solar and wind energy are scheduled to go before the county planning board next month.

Is the Green Communities Label Too Costly? 
Officials in Milton, Mass., are pushing new, eco-friendly construction rules that builders around the state say will drive up the price of development. (Boston Globe)

Stricter Guidelines Coming for Louisville Stormwater 
Developers will have to do more to stop dirt from washing off construction sites and Louisville-area residents will be encouraged to pick up dog droppings, limit the use of fertilizers, and take other steps under a state proposal for reducing pollution in local waterways. (Courier-Journal)

Indianapolis Unveils Green Building Incentive Program 
Indianapolis government leaders have announced a program that provides incentives for property owners and developers to renovate or construct new buildings in a sustainable manner. (Indianapolis Star)

West Sacramento Building Code to be Greener than State
The city's planning commission voted unanimously to approve the early adoption of CalGreen and to make some of the legislation's voluntary sections mandatory, including boosting energy efficiency by 15%. (The Sacramento Business Journal)

San Carlos, Calif., Adopts Green Building Law
City Council members approved the town's first green building ordinance, which officials say will reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions while allowing builders flexibility to meet the new requirements. (San Francisco Examiner)

Living Buildings Get a Test Run in Clark County, Wash.
For the next five years, the jurisdiction will be testing to see if changes should be made to its building and development codes to allow for more advanced green building construction, including net-zero-energy homes. (Daily Journal of Commerce)

Hanover, Penn., Restricts Solar Panels
Supervisors unanimously passed a residential solar ordinance but restricted panels to the side or rear of a property, regardless of whether they would get the benefit of a southern exposure. (The Morning Call)

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