Howard County Council officially voted July 7 to approve a scaled-back version of building code changes aimed at cutting carbon emissions. The amendments require new buildings to be “electric-ready” but stop short of banning gas-powered features like furnaces and stoves. Councilmembers called it a practical step, balancing climate goals with legal realities—similar laws elsewhere face court challenges.
Advocates with HoCo Climate Action say it’s progress, but not the bold move they’d hoped for. Council Chair Liz Walsh put it simply: “We’ve basically run through two years and didn’t file one tiny thing.” Now, Howard County has filed something. It’s not a full ban on fossil fuels, but it’s a step toward the 2045 net-zero target.
The approved amendments also include safeguards like severability clauses, ensuring other parts of the building code stay intact if challenged in court. While it’s not the sweeping decarbonization effort some pushed for, councilmembers say this measured approach keeps momentum alive without risking a legal roadblock. As Councilwoman Christiana Rigby put it, “We need real, enforceable change—not just symbolic wins.” For now, Howard County joins the growing list of jurisdictions threading the needle between climate action and legal caution.
