Government Relations

NOVEMBER 2025 UPDATES

CITY COUNCIL. Here are the results of this week’s municipal election in Cambridge. KSA looks forward to working with this Council on the issues that matter most to us, including sustainability/BEUDO, transportation, vibrancy, and more.

Congratulations to:

Ayah Al-Zubi (Newly elected)
Burhan Azeem
Timothy Flaherty (Newly elected)
Marc McGovern
Patricia Nolan
Sumbul Siddiqui
E. Denise Simmons
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Cathie Zusy

BEUDO/SUSTAINABILITY. The City Council’s Health & Environment Committee convened on October 28th to share status updates regarding BEUDO implementation and planning. After providing an overview of BEUDO, the City outlined its next steps, including:

• Sharing a draft of forthcoming Phase 3 regulations (a public comment period is expected in December)
• Creating Review Board procedures, seating its members, to begin hearing hardship and deferral requests in 2026
• Exploring increased access to renewable energy sources

Eversource was also present at this meeting to explain its sustainable electrification planning.

TRANSPORTATION. With the news that Monica Tibbits-Nutt is stepping down as MA Transportation Secretary, MBTA GM Phil Eng has stepped up to serve in the interim. Eng will continue in his current role at the MBTA while he takes on the additional responsibilities of his new role at MassDOT.

Cambridge’s Linear Park, the multi-use path connecting Alewife with the Somerville/Cambridge city lines, is now closed for up to 14 months for an $8 million improvement project. Upgrades will include repaving and widening the path, improving drainage, and planting new trees. More details about when the path will reopen will be shared early next year. In the meantime, here‘s the detour map.

OCTOBER 2025 UPDATES

BEUDO/SUSTAINABILITY. The BEUDO Review Board will be the body informing the City of Cambridge about BEUDO implementation. Importantly, the Board will review hardship and deferral plans. The Board will include two representatives from climate advocacy, two from the real estate or business sectors, and five technical experts.

Hardship and deferral plans have recently been defined as follows:

Deferrals: A property owner can ask the Review Board for extra time — up to five years — to meet BEUDO’s requirements by submitting a detailed plan that:

• Explains how the property will get back on track within five years;
• Shows that overall emissions through 2050 will not be higher than they would have been without the delay; and
• Follows all related regulations.

If the Review Board approves an owner’s plan, the property will be considered in compliance during the deferral period, however:

• No deferral can allow emissions to go above zero after 2050;
• Once the deferral ends, the property must either meet its targets or buy Alternative Compliance Credits each year for any extra emissions; and
• Minimum performance standards during a deferral will be set by the City.

Hardships: If a building can’t meet BEUDO requirements, the property owner may qualify for a “hardship” by demonstrating:

• Financial distress;
• The building is made up of separate commercial condo units;
• The owner cannot obtain enough electricity from the grid for the building; or the building has a historic designation or other regulatory restrictions that block compliance.

If requirements are met for a hardship, the property owner can submit a “hardship compliance plan” to the Board. This plan must be based on an energy audit or similar assessment, must explain the overall situation, and must detail how the property owner will work toward compliance. If the Board approves it, the building will be considered in compliance for the length of time covered by the plan.

RENEWABLE ENERGY.
The City of Cambridge has also been promoting solar power and renewable energy projects. The Solar Assistance Program provides free support to commercial and large residential property owners to help install solar on their roofs and start saving on energy costs. This program offers no-cost support from solar experts to help you discover the best option for your building, including:

• A solar feasibility analysis for a single building or an entire building portfolio;
• A review of all installation pathways, including no-cost options; and
• A detailed cash flow for each site and ownership option that captures all financial incentives available to your property.

Visit the program website to learn more.

CITY COUNCIL. KSA attended a meeting regarding small business and commercial district support. Using data from a recent city-funded report, Councillors have begun to make recommendations to promote small businesses and commercial districts in Cambridge.