Large buildings would report energy use for public review

Owners would report yearly energy use and other required building details through the EPA's ENERGY STAR tool. The rules would cover residential and nonresidential buildings and campuses with at least 25,000 gross square feet, as identified in municipal tax assessor records. A campus must have at least two buildings sharing utility services and used mostly for health care, research, or higher education. Owners could authorize a utility or another party to submit data, but would still be responsible for reporting. If ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager became unavailable, reporting would pause until it returned or the state named a comparable tool. Owners could seek a one-year exemption if a property was unoccupied all year, had a demolition permit and demolition work began that year, or received no energy services all year. The state energy office would decide whether to grant it. Buildings with at least 50,000 square feet would report by May 15, 2028, and every May 15 after that. Buildings from 25,000 to 49,999 square feet would start by May 15, 2030, and report every May 15 after that. A new property without a full year of energy data would start by May 15 after its first full calendar year of occupancy.

The state energy office would notify owners, publish covered property addresses, and report program information to lawmakers and the public. These notices, address lists, and reports would concern properties covered by the reporting program. Yearly reports would include each covered property's energy information, progress over time on energy use and emissions, and compliance information. The office would host yearly online information sessions and multiple outreach sessions in 2026 through 2029. Owner notices would be sent between September 15 and December 15 each year starting in 2027. Property addresses would be posted by January 31 each year starting in 2028. Program reports would be sent to lawmakers and published by December 31 each year starting in 2027.

The state energy office could offer participation incentives and set rules that include warnings and fines. The incentives and enforcement rules would concern owners in the reporting program. The option to keep a comparable program would apply to municipalities that started one before the chapter took effect. Possible incentives include requiring participation before owners apply for certain building benchmarking or decarbonization grants, and giving public recognition. A municipality with a comparable program started before this chapter took effect could keep using it if it notified the state energy office within 180 days and sent data each year. Fines could not be imposed before May 15, 2031. A city choosing to keep its comparable program would have to notify the state within 180 days after the chapter took effect.