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

Anna Vanderspek

Green Power Program Intern

Recent Posts

Drive Green Resources Translated Thanks to QARI Drives Green

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Thursday, May 18, 2023 @ 02:00 PM

About one year ago, we published a blog announcing our new partnership with Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. (QARI). Since then, we’ve been hard at work, jointly hosting events about electric vehicles (EVs) and clean transportation and otherwise raising awareness about the benefits of EVs among the QARI community in and around Quincy, MA. A huge part of that work has been focused on making information about EVs accessible to people who do not speak English or are more comfortable learning in another language. We’re excited to share that our Drive Green website resources about EVs are now available in multiple languages thanks to this partnership!

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Tags: Electric vehicles/Transportation

Changes to Massachusetts Electric Car Rebate Program Expected July 1

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 @ 11:36 AM

Last year, Massachusetts passed a monumental climate law, An Act Driving Clean Energy & Offshore Wind. Among very many other things, the climate law called for significant changes to the state rebate program for electric vehicles, MOR-EV. Though some of those changes have been implemented, others have been on hold since the bill passed. Now we have learned that several more will come into effect on July 1. Here are the details.

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Massachusetts, Electric vehicles/Transportation

New List of Electric Cars for Federal Tax Credit

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Friday, April 21, 2023 @ 05:19 PM

Earlier this month, we published a blog warning that the list of electric vehicles (EVs) that qualify for the federal tax credit would change on April 18, when the battery requirements written into the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) finally kicked in. The big day has arrived and we now know which vehicles meet the battery requirements, at least for now.

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Tags: Electric vehicles/Transportation

EPA Proposes Ground-Breaking New Vehicle Emissions Standards

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Thursday, April 20, 2023 @ 09:02 AM

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released historic new proposed emissions standards for vehicles, both light-duty and medium- and heavy-duty. To meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, the US as a whole must phase out the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. So far, the US is not on track to meet this challenge, but these new standards would set the country on the path to meeting this goal. These proposed regulations are the strongest emissions standards ever proposed by the EPA and the federal government’s “most aggressive climate regulation” ever.

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Electric vehicles/Transportation, Climate change, Phasing out fossil fuels

Electric Cars That Qualify for Federal Tax Credit to Change on April 18

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Tuesday, April 04, 2023 @ 11:17 AM

Back in January, we reported that the federal government was delaying the implementation of the complicated new battery and mineral requirements for the federal tax credit for electric cars, known as the Clean Vehicle Credit. Last week, the Treasury Department released the guidance we’ve all been waiting for. Here’s what you need to know about these upcoming changes to the federal tax credit.

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Tags: Electric vehicles/Transportation

Transportation Electrification Bills That Matter in Massachusetts

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 @ 03:38 PM

Per the Clean Energy & Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030, Massachusetts must reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector 34% by 2030 for the economy as a whole to cut emissions in half compared to 1990. Last year’s climate bill made some good progress on this front: adjusting the state’s MOR-EV rebate, creating a fund to support the build-out of charging infrastructure, committing to a phase-out of new gas-powered cars by 2035, and setting timelines for MBTA bus fleet electrification. Though a promising start, there’s much more to be done. Here are the transportation electrification bills we’re prioritizing this legislative session. This list may change as the session progresses, but here’s what we have our eye on now.

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Tesla’s Charging Network Is Opening Up

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Thursday, March 02, 2023 @ 04:45 PM

For years, one of the unique advantages of being a Tesla driver has been having access to Tesla’s widespread and well-built public charging network. Now, that charging network is starting to open up to other electric vehicle (EV) drivers too.

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New Price Caps for Federal Tax Credit for Electric Cars

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Tuesday, February 07, 2023 @ 04:00 PM

Last week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury Department made a change to the federal tax credit for electric vehicles (EVs) that changes the list of eligible vehicles for 2023. This is the second big update to the federal tax credit this year, following the January decision to postpone the implementation of the complicated battery and mineral requirements in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Electric vehicles/Transportation

Massachusetts Residents: Take Action for Clean Cars!

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Saturday, January 21, 2023 @ 07:00 AM

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently filed the regulations needed to adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) regulations. As we’ve written before, these regulations are crucial for Massachusetts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030. Now, there’s a chance for YOU to support these key rules, either by testifying in person before DEP on January 30 or submitting written comments by February 9. Here’s all you need to know to act.

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Massachusetts, Electric vehicles/Transportation, Action Alert

$400 Million For Electric Car Charging in Massachusetts!

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Thursday, January 12, 2023 @ 06:45 PM

Way back in the summer of 2021, the electric utilities in Massachusetts – Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil – proposed bold new electric vehicle programs to the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). For the next year, the DPU engaged in a formal process to weigh the utilities’ proposals. Green Energy Consumers served as an official “intervenor” in this docket, which means we advocated for what we thought the DPU should approve. Now, finally, a year and a half later, the DPU has issued its order, unleashing hundreds of millions of dollars for electric vehicle charging infrastructure over the next four years via Make Ready programs and rebates for charging installation (those are two separate but complementary things, as we’ll talk about below!).

May 2023 update: The utility programs are now live and taking applications! You can learn more about how much is available in incentives for residential consumers (single family, 2-4 unit buildings, and 5+) and how to apply here on our website.

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Electric vehicles/Transportation