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

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Hot Days Ahead! Time To Shave The Peak.

As summer approaches, thousands of our followers prepare to “Shave the Peak.” 

Shave the Peak is our program designed to inform people, via text and...

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Electric vehicles/Transportation

Energy policy & advocacy Electric vehicles/Transportation Rhode Island Action Alert

Rhode Island: Say “No” to Electric Vehicle Registration Fees

Calling all Rhode Islanders! The House budget was released last Tuesday and included electric vehicle (EV) registration fees (p. 6) for battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid electric vehicles. While the bill has been passed by the House and heads to the Senate floor for a vote on Friday, we encourage you to contact your legislators and let them know why you oppose these fees or that you are concerned with how they will impact you. We will walk you through the outreach steps later in this blog.

Picture of Tina Munter Tina Munter
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electric vehicles/Transportation Rhode Island Climate change

Bad News for Electric Cars

For the past several weeks, we’ve been working hard on a campaign to protect key regulations, called Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII), which would have steadily increased the supply of electric vehicles (EVs) available to drivers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, such that 100% of new car sales would have to be electric by 2035. These regulations were key to both Massachusetts’ and Rhode Island’s climate plans. Now, they’re off the table. 

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

Defend Clean Cars in the Massachusetts Legislature on May 14

On Wednesday, May 14, the energy committee in the Massachusetts legislature will hold a hearing on bills related to electric transportation – including four bills that would push back or remove altogether the deadline to phase out new gas-powered cars in Massachusetts and weaken the primary tool we have to facilitate this transition. Massachusetts residents, we need you to testify and/or send in written comments in opposition.

Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek
Energy policy & advocacy Massachusetts Electric vehicles/Transportation Phasing out fossil fuels

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.

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

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.

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

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!

Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek
Massachusetts Electric vehicles/Transportation

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.

Picture of Anna Vanderspek Anna Vanderspek