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

Watch Out For Disinformation About Offshore Wind

Climate change is the greatest threat to natural landscapes, marine ecosystems, and fishing industries in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Narragansett Bay has already warmed by nearly 3°F since 1960. Sea levels off the coast of Newport have risen 10 inches since 1930, and projections show they could rise as much as 9 feet in the next 75 years. These changes will drastically alter the fishing industry and the economy. Offshore wind is one of the most powerful tools we have to safeguard these vital resources.

Massachusetts Takes Bold Step To End Gas Line Subsidies

A coalition of twelve environmental and clean energy organizations¹, including Rewiring America, Acadia Center, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, Sierra Club, and Environmental Defense Fund, recently submitted a letter strongly supporting the Department of Public Utilities' (DPU) draft policy to end gas line extension allowances (LEAs)—subsidies that have long encouraged new gas service connections and expansion.

Charge Your Electric Car Off-Peak in Massachusetts & Save

When you charge your electric car matters. Charging when overall demand for electricity is low reduces costs and emissions for the electric grid as a whole. For years, we’ve advocated for better “smart charging” programs from our electric utilities to incentivize electric vehicle (EV) owners to charge their cars off-peak.In addition to utility programs, EV drivers in Massachusetts can participate in the Clean Peak Standard to earn rewards for charging off-peak.

Predatory Electricity Suppliers are Causing Real Pain to Consumers

Back in the late 1990s, Massachusetts decided to allow companies, called third-party suppliers, to sell electricity directly to consumers. The theory was that free-market competition would drive down electricity rates as well-informed consumers efficiently made decisions. After a quarter century of allowing these third-party electric suppliers to sell electricity in Massachusetts, we know this hasn’t worked as planned for residential customers.

What The Car Tariffs Mean for EVs

On March 26, 2025, President Trump announced 25% tariffs on imports of both cars and car parts, throwing global supply chains into chaos. On April 2, he announced additional import tariffs, at different levels for different countries. The situation is evolving rapidly. In this blog, we'll cover what this all means for electric vehicle (EV) adoption.

Empowering Change: 2024 Annual Report

We're thrilled to share our 2024 Annual Report, a testament to the power of community and unwavering commitment to a zero-carbon world. Amidst challenging national headwinds, our supporters and donors have been essential to our continued success.

Watch for Gross Misinformation on Rhode Island’s Clean Energy Costs

On March 10th, the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission held a public hearing on electricity rates. The hearing was picked up by several news outlets and some excerpts from the news coverage were disseminated through social media. We heard one thing that we suspected was wildly incorrect. While covering this hearing, John Perik of NBC 10 News stated that “clean energy costs” on the electric bill were going to rise 43%, and it implied that those charges were the main reason that electricity delivery charges were going up. We will explain why the implications in that statement are incorrect.

Attend a Public Hearing on EV Charging in Massachusetts

Almost two years ago, we wrote a blog about the first report produced by the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council (EVICC) in Massachusetts. Now, EVICC is gearing up to write its second report – and wants to hear from you! There are four public hearings, in person and virtual, coming up for you to share your experience and ideas. If you have an EV or are thinking about getting one, you probably have an opinion on what the state could do to improve EV charging infrastructure.

Rhode Island & Massachusetts Must Continue To Lead On Offshore Wind

It’s no secret that the Trump administration poses a significant challenge to the offshore wind industry in the United States. On the first day of his second term, Trump issued an Executive Order halting all permitting and lease sales for the technology. Nonetheless, offshore wind remains imperative to not only meeting our climate goals, but ensuring energy independence, jobs, and local economic growth. Rhode Island and Massachusetts have been at the forefront of the US offshore wind industry, and as the federal government presents new challenges, it is now more important than ever that our states continue to lead and do everything they can to support this vital resource.

How To Get The Federal Tax Credit For Electric Vehicles

April 3 Update: We recently learned that the IRS has re-opened the portal through which dealers can submit time-of-sale reports, so if you are one of the people who purchased an electric vehicle in 2024 but did not receive the crucial time-of-sale report with which you file Form 8936, reach out to the dealership or store you purchased from and ask them to submit that time-of-sale report!

Back in November 2024, we wrote about the incoming federal administration’s intention to do away with the federal tax credit for electric vehicles (EVs). We’re now well into tax season in 2025, and the federal tax credit is still in existence — for now. However, we do have important news to share, whether you bought an EV in 2024 or are considering buying one in 2025.