NAHB stalls energy efficient code changes for new housing

As a licenced tradesman, I have voted down my small township's adoption of MUBEC "Maine uniform building&energy code" 3 times now. 

I built my own home, and if MUBEC were in place I'd have spent at least $15k more. I am below 10btu/ft2, yet my I would have had to build on a frost wall and not on a monolithic slab, due to building occupation. 

Basically, all the extra excavation would have cost, and I wouldn't have had the money to put into energy efficiency and air sealing that i did. 

I believe in minimum codes (which should be specific to the area) but like most else, it always seems that this stuff goes about 5x too far. It's all or nothing. Where is the middle ground?

My non-code compliant building has about 1/4 the carbon footprint of my neighbors. I can back that up. 

Just my thoughts.