The Energy Consumer's Bulletin- a New England energy news blog

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Fossil Fuel Subsidies, A Price Spike, & Governor Healey’s Changes To The APS

Massachusetts created the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (APS) back in 2008 to subsidize several technologies and actions, which, in theory,...

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Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Heating Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels

Fossil Fuel Subsidies, A Price Spike, & Governor Healey’s Changes To The APS

Massachusetts created the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (APS) back in 2008 to subsidize several technologies and actions, which, in theory, are supposed to help the Commonwealth reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. One might think of it as a strange cousin of the more sensible Renewable Portfolio Standard, which drives wind and solar development. In practice, the APS likely makes little to no impact on the state’s emissions because most of its subsidies go to natural gas-burning combined heat and power systems and biofuels, both technologies with negative to unclear impacts on emissions.

Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electric vehicles/Transportation Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels Action Alert

A Gas Tax Holiday Is Tempting, But Still A Bad Idea

Recently, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey proposed legislation to temporarily waive state taxes on diesel fuel and gasoline. According to the Governor's press release, this “gas tax holiday” would cost the Commonwealth $120 million over a two-month period. We understand the temptation to offer constituents some bill relief – especially with an election just a month away. But Green Energy Consumers is not running for office and, for what it’s worth, we have these comments:

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien 
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Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek
Energy policy & advocacy Electric vehicles/Transportation Climate change Action Alert

Clean Air Act Under Attack... Again

Last year, we called on all our members to reach out to their federal representatives in defense of the Clean Air Act’s provisions regarding tailpipe emissions from vehicles. Unfortunately, we lost that fight, and Congress used the Congressional Review Act to strip states of the right to enforce several key vehicle regulations described in this blog post. Now, they’re at it again.

Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek
Electricity and the grid Energy efficiency Heating Action Alert

Rising Fuel Prices Make Mass Save More Important Than Ever

In the Bay State, the legislature is grappling with the question of how much to spend on the efficiency program known as Mass Save. This blog is mostly about that debate and how it affects about 20 percent of the homes in Massachusetts heated by oil, but the basic point being made here applies equally to the other New England states: state energy efficiency programs are our best defense against the harsh and frequent vicissitudes that plague the oil market.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien 
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Picture of Amanda Barker Amanda Barker
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Energy efficiency Action Alert

Save the Jobs at Mass Save

There’s a lot at stake in the negotiations between the Massachusetts House and Senate over energy affordability legislation. Each branch has passed its own version, and now three members from each side are meeting to reconcile differences in a conference committee. It is expected that they will come out with one final product before Election Day in November. We have written a lot about the bills each side has passed, as well as the affordability offered by Governor Maura Healey in the spring of 2025.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electricity and the grid

Securitization Can Lower Electricity Bills

When an investor-owned utility, like National Grid or Eversource, builds an electric substation or makes some other infrastructure investment, it takes on debt to do so and then pays off that debt over time through revenue raised from ratepayers' bills. Before it is paid off, utilities use a mix of low-interest bonds and more expensive equity funding from their shareholders to finance their debt. This use of high-cost equity financing sends money to utility shareholders (which encourages people to invest in the utilities) but burdens ratepayers with higher bills.

Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Energy policy & advocacy Electricity and the grid Heating Rhode Island Phasing out fossil fuels

Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission Made Some Good Calls

After a several-month process, on Friday, August 21,  the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC) made several decisions in response to a rate increase request from Rhode Island Energy (RIE). This rate case was primarily about what RIE would charge for distributing electricity and gas (think poles, wires, and pipelines). It did not affect the supply of gas or electricity. Overall, the decisions are good for ratepayers and will support the Ocean State’s efforts to comply with the 2021 Act on Climate.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien 
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Picture of Amanda Barker Amanda Barker