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

  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Massachusetts Climate Activists Win The First Round, But The Game’s Not Over

On Monday, those of us who were working to defeat a proposal in the Mass. House of Representatives that would roll back our climate commitments and...

Read more
Electric vehicles/Transportation

Want a Chevy Bolt or Volt? Get it before April 1st.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers a federal tax credit of $2,500 to $7,500 per new electric vehicle (EV) purchased in the United States. Right now, both the Chevrolet Volt and Chevrolet Bolt qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit. However, as of April 1st, the credit will be cut to $3,750 as the tax credit phases out for General Motors vehicles. If you want a Bolt or a Volt, we highly recommend you get it before April 1st to take full advantage of this incentive.

Picture of Devan DiLibero Devan DiLibero
Green municipal aggregation

New report explains the challenges, opportunities and impacts of Green Municipal Aggregation

Community Choice Aggregation: Challenges, Opportunities, and Impacts on Renewable Energy Markets is the latest report released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Highlighted in the report are the benefits that aggregation delivers to communities: savings and price stability. But the report also sheds light on how Community Choice Aggregations are reshaping the dynamics of customer electricity supply and demand. Here we summarize NREL’s findings.

by Yaima Braga
Energy policy & advocacy Electric vehicles/Transportation

Turning Diesel Fuel into Green Transportation: States use VW funds to add more charging stations and electric buses

Massachusetts and Rhode Island have both announced plans on how they intend to spend funds coming from the national Volkswagen “dieselgate” settlement. We’re seeing some solid ideas on how the states can use the VW settlement money to reduce air pollution from diesel fuel. This development is akin to turning swords into plowshares. While it’s horrible that VW deceived governments throughout the world about emissions from its diesel engines, there will be two lasting benefits from the settlement. Firstly, car-makers appear to be reducing their commitment to new diesels, as VW’s experience highlights the impossibility of making low-emission diesel vehicles. Secondly, the VW settlement money will help greatly to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. 

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien
Energy policy & advocacy

Recent Gas System Failures remind us that Gas Isn't Cheap

National Grid trucks line the street outside of Newport Fire Department Headquarters (Station One). Thousands of residents were left without heat when a pressure drop resulted in a gas service interruption.

Catastrophes like the September explosions in Massachusetts' Merrimack Valley and recent extended service disruptions  on Rhode Island's Aquidneck Island put into sharp relief the false economics of gas. Although many consider gas to be an abundant and inexpensive fuel, recent events remind us that the costs borne by individuals, communities, and the environment are much greater than we currently account for. We must transition off gas, but in the immediate term, we can minimize the frequency and impact of system failures by taking steps to reduce our reliance on natural gas, improve system safety, and prepare for potential emergencies.

Picture of Eugenia Gibbons Eugenia Gibbons 
 and
Kai Salem
Electric vehicles/Transportation Guest blog/Member spotlight Our programs

Why We Traveled 724 Miles for an Electric Car

Edited by Mal Skowron

Holly Reid and Rich Shaw live in North Carolina.  They have driven a Prius since 2006, but their ever-growing interests in reducing energy consumption drove them to consider purchasing an all-electric vehicle.  They heard about the Drive Green program from their daughter, Indy, who worked at Green Energy Consumers Alliance in 2018. 

Holly and Rich explored their options using the Drive Green webpage and decided to purchase an EV—even if it meant traveling up to New England to complete the deal and driving it back to North Carolina.  And although their small town hosts six EV charging stations, the Reid-Shaws' plan to charge their vehicle at home using solar energy from the rooftop panels they installed on their historic home (ca. 1795). 

by Holly and Rich Reid-Shaw (Guest Bloggers)
Energy policy & advocacy

Massachusetts and Rhode Island Issue Reports & Commitments on Energy & Transportation. Now what?

2018 is coming to a strong close for clean energy and climate policy in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Within a few days, the Baker administration in Massachusetts released two major reports on the future of the state's energy and transportation systems, while Rhode Island kicked off development of its 20-year Transit Master Plan, and both states announced participation in the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI), a nine-state regional commitment to address transportation sector emissions.

These plans and commitments have been a long-time in the making and will inform efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the northeast going forward. Now, with a new year upon us, we must act on the recommendations made in the reports, develop policies, and implement programs that will move the needle on climate action.

Picture of Eugenia Gibbons Eugenia Gibbons 
 and
Kai Salem