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

Car Dealers Are Spreading Disinformation About Clean Cars

Clean car regulations are under attack federally and here in Massachusetts. We wrote about these attacks on April 25, held a webinar on May 1, and submitted joint letter signed by 70 organizations to Governor Maura Healey on May 2. All along the way, we’ve tried to dispel misinformation and disinformation about these key regulations. Last week, the Massachusetts State Auto Dealer Association made a claim in a Boston Globe article about the subject that incorrectly frames how these regulations work. As part of our Truth to Power campaign, we want to set the record straight.

Electric Vehicles, Particulate Matter, and Public Health

We talk about electric vehicles (EVs) from a climate and consumer perspective all the time, but in honor of World Asthma Day, we’ve done a deep dive into particulate matter (PM) emissions, their impact on public health, and how EVs have lower rates of PM emissions when you look at both exhaust and non-exhaust sources.

Massachusetts Cannot Backslide on Climate Policy

About a week ago, we began hearing rumors that Governor Healey was being pressured by the auto industry to delay implementation of the Advanced Clean Cars (ACC2) rule. ACC2 would, starting with model year 2026, require automakers to gradually increase the percentage of new cars sold in the Bay State that are electric. The Department of Environmental Protection adopted the regulations after an open public process way back in 2023, so it’s disheartening to know that this issue is on the table at all. The transportation sector is the leading cause of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Massachusetts, and ACC2 is, by far, the most important policy for reducing those emissions.

Truth To Power: Speaking Out Against Dangerous Energy Misinformation

Clean energy makes society better. It’s affordable. It’s healthy. It creates good-paying jobs and choices for consumers. And that’s the truth. 

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 from vehicles. In the next few days, it’s critical we all take action to defend these regulations to protect public health and fight climate change.  We don't mean two weeks from now. We mean now.

In this blog, we’ll cover how to take two actions (each will only take 3 minutes!) and then provide more context on what’s going on below. If you take action, email us at drivegreen@greenenergyconsumers.org to let us know!

Charge Your Electric Car Off-Peak in Massachusetts & Save

When you charge your electric car matters. Charging when overall demand for electricity is low reduces costs and emissions for the electric grid as a whole. For years, we’ve advocated for better “smart charging” programs from our electric utilities to incentivize electric vehicle (EV) owners to charge their cars off-peak.In addition to utility programs, EV drivers in Massachusetts can participate in the Clean Peak Standard to earn rewards for charging off-peak.

What The Car Tariffs Mean for EVs

On March 26, 2025, President Trump announced 25% tariffs on imports of both cars and car parts, throwing global supply chains into chaos. On April 2, he announced additional import tariffs, at different levels for different countries. The situation is evolving rapidly. In this blog, we'll cover what this all means for electric vehicle (EV) adoption.

Attend a Public Hearing on EV Charging in Massachusetts

Almost two years ago, we wrote a blog about the first report produced by the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council (EVICC) in Massachusetts. Now, EVICC is gearing up to write its second report – and wants to hear from you! There are four public hearings, in person and virtual, coming up for you to share your experience and ideas. If you have an EV or are thinking about getting one, you probably have an opinion on what the state could do to improve EV charging infrastructure.

How To Get The Federal Tax Credit For Electric Vehicles

April 3 Update: We recently learned that the IRS has re-opened the portal through which dealers can submit time-of-sale reports, so if you are one of the people who purchased an electric vehicle in 2024 but did not receive the crucial time-of-sale report with which you file Form 8936, reach out to the dealership or store you purchased from and ask them to submit that time-of-sale report!

Back in November 2024, we wrote about the incoming federal administration’s intention to do away with the federal tax credit for electric vehicles (EVs). We’re now well into tax season in 2025, and the federal tax credit is still in existence — for now. However, we do have important news to share, whether you bought an EV in 2024 or are considering buying one in 2025.

Four Takeaways from the EPA’s Automotive Trends Report

Every year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releases an Automotive Trends report to highlight shifts in total emissions, fuel economy, vehicle performance, and other data from the nation’s light-duty vehicle fleet. The 2024 report (released in January 2025) showed some stark differences with past automotive trends, dating back to 1975. Here’s what we learned from reading the report.