The Ipswich Republican Town Committee’s next meeting features local architect and Ipswich resident Mat Cummings, and real estate lawyer Ipswich resident Ben Fierro, who will discuss the need to repeal the existing Stretch Energy Code.  Voters at the May 14 Town Meeting will have the opportunity to vote down the Code, which is subject to changes dictated not by Ipswich elected officials or voters, but by regulators at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER).  Since its adoption by the Town in 2018, new mandates have been added by DOER that increase energy efficiency requirements in homes and municipal buildings, exponentially increasing the cost of key building materials and restricting designs and sources of energy.  Moreover, since January 2023, the new mandates apply to alterations and additions to existing homes, including, according to Mr. Cummings, historical homes, making such additions and alterations unaffordable and/or making it impossible to avoid expensive changes to the entire home. Cummings and Fierro advocate joining over 50 Massachusetts towns and go back to the Base Code (as the Town of Essex did in May 2023).  All independent thinkers are welcome.  Coffee and donuts are provided.