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

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PowerUpRI: Rhode Island’s New Home EV Charging Rebate Program

The Office of Energy Resources, in collaboration with the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, just launched a home electric vehicle (EV) charging rebate program! PowerUpRI provides rebates for both homeowners and landlords to install EV charging stations on their properties, making the transition to electric vehicles more accessible and affordable.

Picture of Amanda Barker Amanda Barker

Massachusetts House of Representatives Fails to Deliver Climate Action

If you are reading this, you probably know that the Massachusetts legislature failed to produce a climate bill by the 2023/2024 session’s deadline of July 31. They even suspended their rules and went into August 1st but to no avail. The clock ran out, but it’s worth taking some time to understand how that happened and what it means for the near future.

Picture of Larry Chretien & Carrie Katan Larry Chretien & Carrie Katan

Poll Finds Majority Support for Offshore Wind in Southern New England

If you read our blog on the High Cost of Saying NO to Offshore Wind, you know that offshore wind technology brings numerous benefits. Fortunately, New Englanders are increasingly aware of said benefits. Recent poll resultsfrom the Barr Foundation highlight consensus among Southern New England residents in favor of offshore wind initiatives. Conducted by Hart Research between June 7-16, this poll surveyed over 1,200 registered voters in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, showcasing strong regional support for transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources.

Picture of Amanda Barker Amanda Barker

Rhode Island Is First State to Complete Phase 1 Under National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program

We write with some exciting news regarding Rhode Island’s transportation emission reduction efforts! Last week, Rhode Island became the first state in the nation to complete Phase 1 of the alternative fuel corridor under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program. The NEVI program is part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and funds states to deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, aiming to create an interconnected network that enhances data collection, access, and reliability for EV charging funding and development.

Picture of Amanda Barker Amanda Barker

Chevy Has Two New EVs Worth A Look

Pardon this first-person account, but if you are thinking about buying or leasing an electric vehicle (EV) this year, this might be of help. Given what I do for a living, I know a lot of people who drive EVs, all different makes and models, and about 99% love the car they have. Our family has really enjoyed driving a Chevy Volt since 2014 (plug-in hybrid, or PHEV) and a Chevy Bolt (all-electric) since that came out a few years later. (Back when we got that Volt, we wrote a blog series about it – boy has the EV market come a long way in 10 short years!) Both cars are great for the money. We have had a decade of very low maintenance costs.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien

Building & Transportation Emissions Heading in the Wrong Direction

At Green Energy Consumers Alliance, we’re all about that “think globally, act locally” thing. So it hurts to report that our beloved states, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have carbon emissions going up, not down as their laws and the planet require. Unfortunately, this is true at a global and national level as well. These sobering facts are a renewed call to action for all of us.

A Reminder On Electric Cars, Climate, and Air Pollution

A June 18 Boston Globe story, “If even the secretary of transportation won’t take the train, who will?” greatly understates the value that electric vehicles bring to us in terms of reducing pollution causing both global warming and severe health problems. Much of the article is about how we need to support public transportation and reduce the total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by individual cars. We agree heartily on that point. We absolutely need to reduce the number of vehicles on our roads and overall VMT to meet our climate goals, and public transit is a key way of doing that. (Not to mention all the social and economic benefits of a better public transit system.) But the cars that are left on our roads do need to be electric, and as soon as possible, for the sake of our climate and our health.

Picture of Larry Chretien & Anna Vanderspek Larry Chretien & Anna Vanderspek

Massachusetts State Senate Passed a Good Climate Bill

On Tuesday, June 25, the Mass. State Senate passed, by a vote of 38-2, An Act Upgrading the Grid and Protecting Consumers. We appreciate the Senate’s good work. They’re doing the right thing for consumers by banning retail electricity suppliers. They’re supporting EV adoption. And they are authorizing the Department of Public Utilities to regulate gas utilities in alignment with our climate mandates.