Our client had the kitchen ready to go.
The house was permitted for gas two and a half years ago.
It was the final inspection, and the inspector did not sign off, even with the permit.
Now, she has to scramble.
I’m writing this article for builders, architects, designers, and our salespeople.
Welcome to your future.
You’ll run into this problem with gas ranges whenever you build in certain parts of this state.
When a new bill passes, it could be your town.
By the way, if anyone wants to add insight, please leave it in the comments below.
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Why Massachusetts is Moving from Gas to Electric
I want you to read this as non-politically as possible.
Gas is a contributing factor to climate change, especially leaks from the system.
According to the Energy News Network, building operations account for 27% of the state’s carbon emissions.
On the other hand, replacing gas requires more power—anywhere from 18 to 38 amps per household, just for the stove.
So, we’ll need more power if switching becomes universal.
When You Can Still Buy and Install a Gas Range in Massachusetts
If your gas stove fails, you can replace it.
That’s not the problem, at least not yet.
Switching from Gas to Induction: Costs and Steps to Take
The cost of changing a basic gas range to induction ranges from $2,500 to $3,500.
I wrote a blog article about switching from gas to induction a year ago.
The Highlights:
- Check your electrical
- Install a new breaker outlet and run the wire to the new location
- Uninstall the gas stove
- Deliver the new induction range (you may need to modify it if it’s a cooktop)
Read the full article: 6 Steps to Convert Your Gas Range to Induction
By the way, if you’re worried about toxic emissions like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, formaldehyde, and particulate matter (PMI), buy a better ventilation hood. You need a better ventilation system. Induction still emits some of these compounds into the air.
Where You Cannot Install a Gas Range in Massachusetts
Statewide, gas appliances in new construction are not universally illegal.
Yet.
A bill, H.3227, is under consideration, empowering any town to ban fossil fuels.
However, a Clean Air Law passed in 2022 allowed ten communities to enact such a ban. These towns include:
- Brookline
- Acton
- Aquinnah
- Cambridge
- Concord
- Lincoln
- Lexington
If the example above is taken at face value, then you’ll need to switch to electric in these communities, even with permits.
If you’re a luxury home builder, this switch is a big problem, especially with larger ranges of 48 and 60 inches.
You only have three options to replace a 48-inch pro range with induction:
- AGA
- Fulgor Milano
- Fisher Paykel
BlueStar will have theirs available later this year. Wolf is rumored to have theirs in 2025.
For now, the selection is limited to 36 inches.
Unfortunately for my client, she had a 60-inch all-gas range specified.
Currently, you cannot buy a 60-inch all-induction or electric range.
The amperage on this Wolf 60-inch all-gas range is 15 amps.
Her only solution was two Wolf 30-inch induction ranges at 50 amps each.
So, she has to install 100 amps and rewire after the fact, at an added cost of roughly $20,000.
By the way, those gas dryers at 15 amps will have to be replaced with electric ones at 30 amps, so she has some rewiring to do in the basement as well.
Key Takeaways for Builders Facing Massachusetts Gas Range Bans
This new gas legislation reminds me of the makeup air venting laws of 2007.
Some inspectors enforced it immediately.
Some didn’t.
However, rewiring for induction is harder and more expensive than venting.
If you’re reading this with a permit, especially in Brookline, I’d check with your inspector before finding out the hard way.
Additional Resources
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