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Commissioners plan response after hearing of bill to repeal Building Energy Performance Standards
Summary
County staff briefed commissioners on House Bill 988, which would repeal BEPS; commissioners expressed concern about feasibility for very large buildings and discussed testifying or submitting comments ahead of hearings.
Agency official (S5) told commissioners that Del. Wayne Hartman introduced House Bill 988 to repeal the state’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS). S5 said BEPS currently apply to buildings 35,000 square feet and larger and that the state is in a reporting period now with performance standards phased in later this decade. "He's introduced a bill to repeal entirely the BEPS system," S5 said.
Commissioners and staff expressed mixed reactions. Multiple members said they support climate measures in principle but worried BEPS could impose unrealistic requirements on very large facilities such as data centers and certain state or federal buildings; one commissioner noted state buildings and school buildings had reportedly been exempted in early drafts, complicating the policy’s scope.
Why it matters: repealing BEPS would remove a state framework aimed at reducing building greenhouse‑gas emissions; for the county the question is how compliance or repeal affects private businesses, county facilities and planning for energy demand.
What’s next: staff said MDE will meet with county staff in the coming months; commissioners discussed testifying or submitting written position letters for the committee record.
