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

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Critical Action Alert: Clean Vehicle Rules Under Attack

Automakers and the fossil fuel lobby have been campaigning across the country to undermine, delay, or destroy key regulations to reduce pollution...

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Climate change (2)

Massachusetts Energy efficiency Heating Climate change

Behold: Mass Save Will Deliver $13.6 Billion In Benefits Over Three Years

In the last few weeks, there has been much written about rising natural gas rates in Massachusetts and some commentary about whether the state’s energy efficiency program, Mass Save, is at fault. Two factors have caused our total gas bills to spike: gas rates were increased on November 1st and this winterhas had very cold weather that caused increased consumption. As a gas customer myself, that’s been my experience. But anger about Mass Save is misplaced. It’s true that the budget for Mass Save is likely to increase, but the program is a big part of the solution to our energy woes. And in fact, its existence benefits everyone financially – even folks who don’t take advantage of the Mass Save program offerings directly – by decreasing overall costs.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien
Electric vehicles/Transportation Rhode Island Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels Action Alert

Action Alert: Oppose the Rhode Island Electric Vehicle Fee

Recently, electric vehicles (EVs) have been in the news because various states around the country – including our very own Rhode Island – are introducing extra registration fees for EVs. Though in some cases these fees are clearly punitive and motivated by politics, these registration fees are being justified as a way to balance out the fact that EV drivers don’t pay the gas tax. Here at Green Energy Consumers, we oppose a special EV registration fee – it's a disincentive to electrify at a time when we need to replace combustion engines as quickly as possible with EVs. However, the question of how to fund our roads and bridges is a fair one. It’s just way bigger than EVs versus gas cars.

Picture of Anna Vanderspek & Tina Munter Anna Vanderspek & Tina Munter
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Climate change

How the Massachusetts Budget Can Advance Our Climate Goals

Despite the fact that they get the lion's share of coverage in the media, announcements of new climate programs by Governor Healey or clean energy laws passed by the State House are just pieces of paper. What turns these pieces of paper into real initiatives that can shut down coal plants, get solar projects connected to the power grid, and reduce utility bills, is the work of staff members at agencies like the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the Department of Energy Resources (DOER), and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC).

Picture of Carrie Katan Carrie Katan
Energy policy & advocacy Climate change

Tariffs On Canadian Energy Are Trouble For New England

Over the weekend, you may have read or heard that the Trump administration is going to impose new 25% tariffs on imported goods from Canada, Mexico, and China, effective on Tuesday. The depth and scope of how these tariffs will affect our economy and international relations is incredibly wide and deep. It will affect food, cars, lumber, and much more – and that’s before those countries retaliate by raising tariffs on things that we export. But with this blog, Green Energy Consumers will stay in our lane, meaning we will focus on the impacts of these tariffs on New England energy markets.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien
Climate change

Los Angeles is Burning. Will Californians Care About Flooding In New England?

We’re going to see another horrible flood in New England. It’s just a matter of when and where. If it’s in Providence, will people in Boston care? If it’s in Boston, will people in Providence care? Maybe it’ll be in Vermont; floods don’t require oceanfront property. Wherever it happens in our region, should we expect Californians to put aside their sadness about wildfires to care about our global warming symptoms? Let’s be honest. When we see Los Angeles burn, don’t we think for a second, “At least it’s not here, at least it’s not me”?

Picture of Larry Chretien & Anna Vanderspek Larry Chretien & Anna Vanderspek
Energy policy & advocacy Energy efficiency Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels

How Electrifying Homes Improves Public Health & Cuts Emissions

Rewiring America, a non-profit focused on electrifying homes and businesses, recently released Breathe Easy, a report about how building electrification improves outdoor air quality and reduces premature deaths. The report finds that electrifying buildings not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also improves public health, especially for marginalized communities.

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

Closing the Spark Gap is Key to Electrification

Meeting climate goals anywhere, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, depends upon electrifying everything – cars, space heating, water heating, stoves, and clothes dryers. Combustion has to be phased out. Federal and state purchase incentives for many of those items help level the playing field on an up-front cost basis. However, they do not address operating costs. To meet our climate goals, we must reduce the ratio of prices for electricity versus prices for fossil fuels – the Spark Gap.

Picture of Larry Chretien & Anna Vanderspek Larry Chretien & Anna Vanderspek
Electric vehicles/Transportation Climate change

Want An Electric Vehicle? Get It Now!

There’s a lot of speculation in the news right now regarding the incoming Trump administration’s plans for key energy and climate policies. Nobody can predict exactly what will happen when, but one thing is clear: if you are considering purchasing or leasing a new or used electric vehicle (EV) in the next couple of months, do it before the end of the year if you can.

Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek
Energy policy & advocacy Climate change Phasing out fossil fuels

Project 2025 is a Dire Threat to Clean Energy and Climate Action

As the presidential election approaches, we are grounded in the work that has been done in the first half of this decade to advance clean energy policy and jobs, reduce household energy costs, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. However, we want to acknowledge the real potential consequences of backsliding on these accomplishments under an administration that does not support the growth of clean energy. This blog will highlight some climate wins we have seen in the prior 4 years, and underscore the impact Project 2025 would have in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Picture of Carrie Katan & Tina Munter Carrie Katan & Tina Munter