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

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New England's Heating Oil Crisis: Why Heat Pumps Are The Smart Switch

For several months, we have seen multiple news reports about the dramatic increase in gasoline and diesel prices at the pump. If you drive a car on...

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Action Alert

Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electric vehicles/Transportation Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels Action Alert

A Gas Tax Holiday Is Tempting, But Still A Bad Idea

Recently, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey proposed legislation to temporarily waive state taxes on diesel fuel and gasoline. According to the Governor's press release, this “gas tax holiday” would cost the Commonwealth $120 million over a two-month period. We understand the temptation to offer constituents some bill relief – especially with an election just a month away. But Green Energy Consumers is not running for office and, for what it’s worth, we have these comments:

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien 
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Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek
Energy policy & advocacy Electric vehicles/Transportation Climate change Action Alert

Clean Air Act Under Attack... Again

Last year, we called on all our members to reach out to their federal representatives in defense of the Clean Air Act’s provisions regarding tailpipe emissions from vehicles. Unfortunately, we lost that fight, and Congress used the Congressional Review Act to strip states of the right to enforce several key vehicle regulations described in this blog post. Now, they’re at it again.

Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek
Electricity and the grid Energy efficiency Heating Action Alert

Rising Fuel Prices Make Mass Save More Important Than Ever

In the Bay State, the legislature is grappling with the question of how much to spend on the efficiency program known as Mass Save. This blog is mostly about that debate and how it affects about 20 percent of the homes in Massachusetts heated by oil, but the basic point being made here applies equally to the other New England states: state energy efficiency programs are our best defense against the harsh and frequent vicissitudes that plague the oil market.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien 
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Picture of Amanda Barker Amanda Barker
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Energy efficiency Action Alert

Save the Jobs at Mass Save

There’s a lot at stake in the negotiations between the Massachusetts House and Senate over energy affordability legislation. Each branch has passed its own version, and now three members from each side are meeting to reconcile differences in a conference committee. It is expected that they will come out with one final product before Election Day in November. We have written a lot about the bills each side has passed, as well as the affordability offered by Governor Maura Healey in the spring of 2025.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien
Massachusetts Electric vehicles/Transportation Climate change Action Alert

Proposed Changes To Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Rebate Program

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) recently proposed changes to the structure of the Massachusetts rebate program for electric vehicles (EVs), MOR-EV. You can share your feedback on the proposed changes with DOER in writing or by attending a virtual or in-person public hearing. Here are all the details!

Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electricity and the grid Energy efficiency Climate change Action Alert

Massachusetts Senate To Vote On Energy This Wednesday: You Can Help!

On Wednesday, July 1, the Massachusetts State Senate is scheduled to vote on a major energy bill, Senate 3143. We are as deeply engaged in this matter as we can be. Your help is needed to make it the best possible law.

Here are some points we think you should know.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien 
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Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Renewable energy Energy policy & advocacy Energy efficiency Rhode Island Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels Action Alert

Budget & Benchmarking: Where Rhode Island Stands As Session Nears End

This 2026 Rhode Island legislative session will likely wrap up on June 12th. The House amended budget was released last Friday, and both chambers are working to pass it quickly. We have been tracking two important pieces of legislation all session: The Fiscal Year 2027 Budget and building decarbonization legislation. Both are critical for the state to maintain and potentially hasten our current trajectory of emissions reductions to meet the mandates in the Act on Climate.

Picture of Tina Munter Tina Munter
Renewable energy Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electricity and the grid Energy efficiency Heating Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels Action Alert

Newest Energy Bill Out In Massachusetts: Call Your Rep!

The House Ways and Means Committee has just put out a new version of their energy bill, H.5151, which is expected to be voted on by the full House this Thursday. This bill, while a massive improvement over what left the House Telecommunications Utility and Energy Committee in November, is still a mixed bag. Though it removes many of the previous bill’s worst provisions and improves consumer protections for electricity customers, it would still impose draconian cuts on the Mass Save program. Yet again, we need you to take action by calling your representative!

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien 
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Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Energy policy & advocacy Rhode Island Climate change Action Alert

Rhode Island State Agencies Give Up on Clean Energy and the Act on Climate

Rhode Island has an implementation problem. In the four years since Governor Dan McKee signed the landmark Act on Climate, declaring that it “represents a commitment that not only addresses a moral imperative, but also presents a platform to enhance our economy, public health, environmental equity, and natural environment” (Act on Climate Press Release, 2021), the state has passed scant additional policies that would drive down emissions.

Now, environmental, labor, and business leaders are reeling after reviewing the Governor’s proposed FY 2027 Budget that attempts to yank out foundational policies needed to meet the Act on Climate.  

Picture of Tina Munter Tina Munter 
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Picture of Amanda Barker Amanda Barker