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

Climate Change Had Its Day in Court

Back in November 2014, I wrote about how Mass Energy has joined with the Conservation Law Foundation in a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts because the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection had not written regulations required by the Global Warming Solutions Act. The regulations are about ensuring that we meet the law’s requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2020, an important milestone on the way to the ultimate requirement of 80% by 2050. On Friday, January 8, oral arguments in the case were presented to the Supreme Judicial Court. I’m happy to report that the attorney on our side, Jenny Rushlow of the Conservation Law Foundation, did an outstanding job of presenting our argument and answering good questions from the justices.

Green Municipal Aggregation: Communities Getting Good Energy

Many cities and towns around Massachusetts are getting into municipal aggregation, a community-wide, bulk purchase of electricity. But the City of Melrose and the Town of Dedham have taken the concept a step beyond all others. With the guidance of their consultant, Good Energy, Melrose and Dedham will be supplied with 16% local, post-1997 renewable energy instead of the 11% required by state law. That important 5% additional increment will be supplied by Mass Energy. The increase from 11% to 16% is actually a 45% increase in the amount of renewable energy!

Why I voted against the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Three Year Plan

In Massachusetts, three-year plans for energy efficiency are developed by the utilities with input and oversight from the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC). Right now, the next plan’s final draft is filed with the MA Department of Public Utilities for approval, accompanied by a recommendation from the Council. As a member of the EEAC, representing the Mass. Nonprofit Network, I was the sole vote on October 26 against the plan for 2016-2018. This post will explain why.

Feds Forecast a Less Expensive Heating Oil Winter: What does that mean for state policies?

On October 6, the Federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected that heating your home with oil will cost 25 percent less than last year and heating your home with natural gas will cost 10 percent less due to a nice combination of lower prices and a forecast for warmer weather.  Temperatures for each month from October through March are expected to be higher than the 10-year average.  For heating oil customers, this winter could cost $500 or $1000 less than last winter.

June electricity prices lowest in 12 years: So why more gas pipelines?

Municipal Aggregation: An Opportunity for Local Renewable Energy

For some time now in Massachusetts, you have been able to choose green power for your home or business. And for some time, your community has been able to choose an electricity supplier to serve the entire town. Today, we can put the two ideas together: renewable energy by community choice.

Heating Oil Price Trends: This Winter Is Much Better For Consumers

Heating oil prices are surprising everyone, including the major oil producers such as the Saudis and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Wind Blown: A Discussion of Cape Wind

Last week, we learned that National Grid and NSTAR decided to withdraw their commitment to purchase electricity from the Cape Wind project.  Many of us were looking forward to seeing Cape Wind become the first offshore wind project in the United States. Now that seems unlikely. Without the contracts with NSTAR and National Grid, Cape Wind will find it extremely difficult to get financing.

To Our Green Power Members: Mass Energy’s Take on Electricity Rate Increases

*If you live in Rhode Island read the People's Power & Light version of this article here.

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You’ve been good enough to voluntarily sign up for one of Mass Energy’s green power products, New England Wind or New England GreenStart (if not, click here to learn how). By now, you have probably read or heard that electricity rates for customers of National Grid, NSTAR, and Western Mass Electric are all taking a big jump this winter. These rates will be in effect until the spring. At that point, we expect the rates to come back down. Below is some information on the electricity rate increases and Mass Energy’s response. 

The utilities buy electricity according to rules set by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). Because this winter’s spike is so significant, the DPU has asked stakeholders for ideas on how to mitigate the rate increase and how to minimize its effects on consumers. Here’s what we had to say...

Mass Energy advocates for policies that are pro-consumer and pro-environment.

The Circle of Life: NSTAR Green Terminated, But Green Power Lives On

Acting on the recommendations of the Department of Energy Resources and Attorney General, on December 16^th, the...