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

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Los Angeles is Burning. Will Californians Care About Flooding In New England?

We’re going to see another horrible flood in New England. It’s just a matter of when and where. If it’s in Providence, will people in Boston care? If it’s in Boston, will people in Providence care? Maybe it’ll be in Vermont; floods don’t require oceanfront property. Wherever it happens in our region, should we expect Californians to put aside their sadness about wildfires to care about our global warming symptoms? Let’s be honest. When we see Los Angeles burn, don’t we think for a second, “At least it’s not here, at least it’s not me”?

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

New Smart Charging Program for EV Drivers in Rhode Island

Here at Green Energy Consumers Alliance, we talk a lot about the need for managed charging programs for electric vehicles (EVs), both to reduce stress on our electric grid and to incentivize more EV adoption. So, we’re excited to announce that Rhode Island Energy (RIE) has just launched a new Electric Vehicle Demand Response (EVDR) program. Here are all the details and how you can sign up to help reduce grid demand during peak times – and earn up to $70!

Picture of Anna Vanderspek & Tina Munter Anna Vanderspek & Tina Munter

Massachusetts Electricity Rate Reform is Heading in the Right Direction

Back in May, several Massachusetts state agencies came together to form an Interagency Rates Working Group (IRWG) to advance near- and long-term electric rate designs that align with the Commonwealth’s decarbonization goals by prioritizing the reduction of energy burden while incentivizing transportation and building electrification. That statement of purpose is a mouthful but it succeeds at crystalizing the general consensus on Massachusetts energy policy goals among state officials and many advocates, including Green Energy Consumers Alliance — which is, how can we pay for energy in a way that keeps energy affordable for everyone and encourages getting off of fossil fuels?

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien

Transportation in the 2024 Massachusetts Climate Bill

A few weeks ago, we celebrated the passage of the 2024 climate bill in Massachusetts, An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity and protecting ratepayers, and wrote about its provisions related to reforming natural gas utilities, procuring battery storage, and siting and permitting. Here’s what the bill does on transportation.

Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek

Massachusetts Action Alert: Stand Up for Clean Trucks (Again!)

Recently, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced the delay of two key regulations that will clean up dangerous air pollution from medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Though the delays are not full rollbacks, they come after heavy industry lobbying, and it’s crucial to defend these important standards at public hearings on Monday, December 9, or in writing by 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 19, 2024. 

Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek

Closing the Spark Gap is Key to Electrification

Meeting climate goals anywhere, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, depends upon electrifying everything – cars, space heating, water heating, stoves, and clothes dryers. Combustion has to be phased out. Federal and state purchase incentives for many of those items help level the playing field on an up-front cost basis. However, they do not address operating costs. To meet our climate goals, we must reduce the ratio of prices for electricity versus prices for fossil fuels – the Spark Gap.

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

Want An Electric Vehicle? Get It Now!

There’s a lot of speculation in the news right now regarding the incoming Trump administration’s plans for key energy and climate policies. Nobody can predict exactly what will happen when, but one thing is clear: if you are considering purchasing or leasing a new or used electric vehicle (EV) in the next couple of months, do it before the end of the year if you can.

Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek