Watertown Council refers building emissions ordinance to committee after public support

Watertown City Council on Monday referred a proposed Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure ordinance — commonly called the "Berto" in meeting materials — to the Rules & Ordinances Committee for discussion and drafting of implementing regulations.

The Berto would require a defined set of large buildings in Watertown to report and reduce greenhouse gas emissions over a timetable that includes baseline reporting in 2025–2026 and reduction targets for some buildings by 2035 and for all covered and municipal properties by 2050. City Manager George Proakis told the council the ordinance focuses on the relatively small number of large buildings that produce a disproportionate share of local emissions and that roughly 150 buildings would be affected; about 22 of…