Retail electricity prices keep rising everywhere, causing pocketbook anxiety among consumers and political anxiety among elected officials. Some of our public servants suggest cutting back on clean energy commitments to make energy affordable. They are obviously being egged on by disinformation campaigns run by the fossil fuel industry. Nonetheless, it is becoming increasingly clear that New England’s overdependence upon natural gas for heat and electricity is one of the main energy cost drivers (along with overspending on utility infrastructure and their profits).

We wrote a blog about natural gas just a couple of weeks ago, citing recent work from Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and the Brattle Group, as well as data and statements from the organization that manages the New England power grid, ISO-NE.

But here’s reporting from Bloomberg News that should cast doubt on a retreat from energy efficiency and renewable energy being a good idea.

• Costs to build natural gas-fired power plants in the US increased 66% between 2023 and 2025 as developers propose building more projects nationwide to meet rising electricity demand…Surging power demand from data centers and new factories is reshaping the US energy landscape, driving plans for new gas plants.
• The time to bring a gas-fired power plant online also has increased, climbing 23% from 2023 to 2025, according to the BNEF report, which analyzed utility filings.

So, if you get a chance to communicate with a state legislator or your governor, don’t let them glibly tell you that we need an “all of the above” energy strategy. We already have “all of the above” – with too much natural gas. Wind, solar, batteries, and good old-fashioned energy efficiency are all better, faster, and cheaper than power from methane.