In an ironic twist of events, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey struck down a Boston suburb’s attempt to implement a fossil fuel ban last week after her office found that it conflicted with state regulations. The block comes as Healey is trying to advance her own political and regulatory agenda against the fossil fuel industry by superseding federal policy via a lawsuit against ExxonMobil.

Last year, Brookline, Mass. approved a by-law that would prohibit the installation of oil and gas heating systems in new construction beginning in 2021. After reviewing the ban’s legality, however, Healey found that she had no choice but to reject the measure:

“The Attorney General agrees with the policy goals behind the Town’s attempt to reduce the use of fossil fuels within the Town. However, the Legislature (and the courts) have made plain that the Town cannot utilize the method it selected to achieve those goals.”

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