City officials and climate advocates spoke in favor of bills promoting electrification and fossil fuel bans in new buildings, facing opposition from industry representatives and gas workers.

A group of 24 New Jersey business and union interests lobby to halt a plan that would prevent the installation of most fossil-fueled heating in new buildings.

Many are disappointed that a proposed net-zero building code for Massachusetts does not allow municipalities to ban fossil-fuels in new construction.

North Carolina has joined a national debate over efforts by the natural gas industry to forestall such changes via laws ensuring “consumer energy choice.”