Written on: March 30, 2026
From the National Propane Gas Association Bobtail
The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued its ruling on March 25, 2026 in our coalition’s challenge to Montgomery County Bill 13-22, the County’s all-electric building mandate that bans gas appliances in new construction and major renovations. The court agreed that the plaintiffs have standing and that the claims are ripe for review, but granted summary judgment to the County on the merits, holding that the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) does not preempt the local ordinance. This decision sets up a direct conflict with the Ninth Circuit’s Berkeley decision. NPGA’s legal counsel is meeting with our outside lawyers in the coming days to explore our next options, and will keep membership updated on next steps.
Questions? Contact NPGA Director of Regulatory Affairs and Associate General Counsel Kate Gaziano at kgaziano@npga.org.
