Three Court Rulings Affirm Local Authority on Building Decarbonization

Three recent court decisions affirmed that state and local governments have the legal authority to enact building performance standards and related decarbonization regulations. Judges dismissed a lawsuit challenging Maryland's Building Performance Standard, ruling it does not conflict with the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act; similar rulings backed Montgomery County and D.C. laws requiring high-efficiency electric appliances in most new construction. The Public Health Law Center published a commentary on the decisions.