Energy Code Policy in Barnstable & Orleans

At the Special Town Meeting on November 17th, Orleans residents voted down the Specialized Energy Code. Builders in that town spoke at town meeting, educating the public about the challenges of the grid and technology.

While the Barnstable Town Council recently voted to adopt the Stretch Energy Code (it will go into effect in July 2026), we convinced voters not to adopt the Specialized Energy Code in Orleans. Though rooted in good intent, without more incentives and better technology and infrastructure, our Board of Directors agreed going from the stretch code to the specialized municipal code during a housing crisis will have a disproportionate effect on the Cape's  workforce.

Had we not organized and engaged, Orleans would have been the next domino to fall after Truro, Wellfleet, & Eastham, making it even more expensive to build.

But voters understood the technology is just not there yet and voted against the proposal by 50 votes. This is directly because of builders who spoke up like Aaron Polhemus, Peter Kimball, Matt Spencer, and Paul Van Stessel, among others like Matt Teague and Tim O'Neill who shared their Barnstable Stretch Code experience with us.

This quick action around town meeting was organized in just a few weeks and demonstrates the power of our voices when we work together as an association. But it also speaks to how these issues can come up quickly when you're not plugged in.

That's why HBRACC needs you to fill out this form if you've ever considered serving on a town board or committee (whether it be Planning Board, ZBA, energy committee, etc). Even if you're not ready now but could be with some training and support, please sign up as a potential town committee member, so we can start having a say earlier in the process and partner with towns as they try to address their climate, housing, and other regulatory goals.