The official comment period on opening rulemaking for the Residential Energy Code, Chapter 1322 of the state building code, closed on Monday, Aug. 31 when the one week rebuttal comment period expired.
Judge Eric Lipman, an administrative law judge, will be considering comments made by the public and interested parties before recommending to open rulemaking on the residential energy code.
Housing First Minnesota sent Judge Lipman a letter in July, a technical memo in mid-August, rebuttal comments on Monday as well as set tone during an Aug. 3 administrative law hearing.
Our organization has also convened a coalition of groups opposed to the opening rulemaking process, including the Minnesota Realtors, Central Minnesota Builders Association, Fargo Moorhead Home Builders Association, the Builders Association of Minnesota and NARI-MN.
In addition to Housing First Minnesota and its housing industry coalition, a handful of building officials testified against opening rulemaking during the Aug. 3 hearing. An official recommendation from Judge Lipman is expected in 30 days.
Following his recommendation, the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry will make an official decision in the coming months. If DLI opens rulemaking, it could be two years or longer before a new energy code is put into place.
