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

Mal Skowron

Recent Posts

The biggest barrier to EV charging you’ve never heard of

Posted by Mal Skowron on Thursday, September 29, 2022 @ 12:03 PM

This fall, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is considering proposals from National Grid, Eversource, and Unitil that could make it more economical to operate DC fast charging stations. The proposals could be a big step forward in expanding much-needed charging infrastructure in the Bay State.

But is the DPU considering how to maximize all potential co-benefits of the proposal? In this blog, we’ll explain the new ideas under consideration by regulators and what’s still missing to achieve a smart energy policy that will drive Massachusetts towards the emissions reduction needed to meet its climate goals.

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Tags: Massachusetts, Electric vehicles/Transportation, Phasing out fossil fuels

What Candidates for RI Governor Think about Phasing Out Gasoline

Posted by Mal Skowron on Friday, August 12, 2022 @ 08:15 AM

Last week, the Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI) hosted a forum for candidates running RI Governor to discuss their plans for the environment if elected. The forum covered several of Rhode Island’s most pressing environmental issues, including environmental justice and implementation of the Act On Climate. But one question stood out.

Moderator Ed Fitzpatrick of the Boston Globe asked: To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, should Rhode Island set an end date for the last sales of new gasoline-powered automobiles like some other states?

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Electric vehicles/Transportation, Rhode Island

A murky future for RI's electric vehicle programs

Posted by Mal Skowron on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 @ 09:25 AM

Rhode Island is in good shape to reduce emissions from the power sector after a successful 2022 legislation session. But it’s slow-going on policy to support vehicle electrification, which is an absolute necessity to displace gasoline use and meet 2030 climate goals.

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Electric vehicles/Transportation

Rhode Island EV Rebate Program is Open for Applications

Posted by Mal Skowron on Thursday, July 07, 2022 @ 10:41 AM

Starting today, July 7, Rhode Islanders who want to purchase or lease an electric vehicle (EV) are eligible to receive a rebate from the newly re-instated DRIVE EV program. This is big news for drivers who are tired of paying $5 per gallon of gasoline and are ready to buy a car that’s much better for the climate.

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Tags: Electric vehicles/Transportation, Rhode Island

RI, Get Ready: the EV Rebate is Coming Back

Posted by Mal Skowron on Monday, May 16, 2022 @ 12:30 PM

This summer, the RI Office of Energy Resources is planning on launching DRIVE EV, an incentive program to help drivers access electric vehicles (EVs). This program is desperately needed, as Rhode Island has the lowest EV adoption rate in all of New England (and much of the US). Here’s what you need to know.

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Tags: Electric vehicles/Transportation, Rhode Island

The math on fuel savings

Posted by Mal Skowron on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 @ 07:38 AM

The fast rise in gas prices is making lots of people consider switching to an electric vehicle. It is cheaper to drive a mile on electricity than it is to drive a mile on gasoline everywhere in the US. The average driver in Massachusetts or Rhode Island saves about $600 in a typical year by switching to an electric car for two reasons:  

  1. Electricity is cheaper than gasoline 
  2. Electric cars are more efficient, so they consume less energy to travel the same number of miles
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RI Needs to Assess the Climate Impacts of Transportation Spending

Posted by Mal Skowron on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 @ 03:20 PM

Transportation is the largest source of climate-warming emissions in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, so Green Energy Consumers Alliance is focused on finding policy solutions to advance low-carbon alternatives to gasoline. How the states structure their transportation budgets will be a key factor for how they expect to meet 2030 climate mandates. 

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Electric vehicles/Transportation, Rhode Island, Phasing out fossil fuels

Survey: MA residents are ready for a smarter electricity system

Posted by Mal Skowron on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 @ 06:00 PM

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the government body responsible for overseeing the operation of gas and electric utilities, is considering proposals by National Grid and Eversource to modernize the electric grid and support the buildout of EV charging infrastructure.

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Massachusetts, Electricity and the grid

Gasoline prices are spiking. Electric vehicle drivers are saving.

Posted by Mal Skowron on Friday, November 12, 2021 @ 05:48 PM

It’s all over the news: gas prices have hit a seven-year high. Depending on your political beliefs, you might blame inflation or the president. But the largest factor driving petroleum prices is simply supply and demand. 

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Tags: Electric vehicles/Transportation

Act On Climate was a big step for RI. Now let’s work quickly to implement it

Posted by Mal Skowron on Friday, November 05, 2021 @ 03:15 PM

You may be reading more about climate policy in the news because of COP26, the global conference in Glasgow to address the climate crisis hosted by the United Nations. This work is important for the sake of international cooperation and because climate change is a global issue. However, work on the international scale doesn’t replace the need for strong leadership on the local and state level to enact policies that align with the vision of COP26, as I recently argued in the Boston Globe alongside our allies at The Nature Conservancy. 

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Rhode Island, Phasing out fossil fuels