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

Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Rebate Increased to $3,500

Posted by Devan DiLibero & Anna Vanderspek on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 @ 12:30 PM

The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles Program (MOR-EV Program) has increased electric vehicle rebates from $2,500 to $3,500 for battery electric vehicles. This is the first of several changes to the state rebate program that will help make the car buying/leasing process more manageable for Massachusetts residents. 

Read More

Tags: Electric vehicles/Transportation

A Buyers’ Guide to EV Charging Speeds

Posted by Kelly Shin and Mal Skowron on Thursday, November 17, 2022 @ 01:03 PM

If you’re shopping for a new electric vehicle (EV), there may be several key features you’re looking for: trunk space, driving range, and other attractive styling options that may sway your decision for you.

Read More

Tags: Electric vehicles/Transportation

What's Up With the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Rebate?

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Friday, October 21, 2022 @ 05:22 PM

Massachusetts’ rebate program for electric vehicles, MOR-EV, has been critical to the growth of electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the Commonwealth. This summer, Governor Baker signed into law An Act Advancing Clean Energy and Offshore Wind, which made important changes to the state EV rebate program. Those changes, however, have not yet come into effect. Here’s a summary of what changes are coming, when we think they might actually happen, and what’s causing the delay. 

Update: On November 17, 2022, the Department of Energy Resources announced that the MOR-EV rebate for battery-electric vehicles has been increased to $3,500. The DOER press release also stated that plug-in hybrids will continue to be eligible for a $1,500 rebate as long as they have at least 25 miles of electric range. DOER has not yet increased the final sales price limit from $50,000 to $55,000. You can read more about these changes in this more recent blogpost.

Read More

Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Massachusetts, Electric vehicles/Transportation

Why We Support the Fair Share Amendment

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Monday, October 17, 2022 @ 12:34 PM

Green Energy Consumers is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, which means we cannot support or endorse a candidate running for public office in an election. However, we can – and do – support policy proposals, including ones being decided via a ballot question in an election. This fall, we urge you to VOTE YES on Question 1, the Fair Share Amendment. We see it as an important tool in the toolbox in the race to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s why. 

Read More

Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Massachusetts, Electric vehicles/Transportation, Action Alert

The biggest barrier to EV charging you’ve never heard of

Posted by Mal Skowron on Thursday, September 29, 2022 @ 12:03 PM

This fall, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is considering proposals from National Grid, Eversource, and Unitil that could make it more economical to operate DC fast charging stations. The proposals could be a big step forward in expanding much-needed charging infrastructure in the Bay State.

But is the DPU considering how to maximize all potential co-benefits of the proposal? In this blog, we’ll explain the new ideas under consideration by regulators and what’s still missing to achieve a smart energy policy that will drive Massachusetts towards the emissions reduction needed to meet its climate goals.

Read More

Tags: Massachusetts, Electric vehicles/Transportation, Phasing out fossil fuels

What the Inflation Reduction Act Means for Massachusetts & Rhode Island

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Monday, September 12, 2022 @ 12:53 PM

On August 16, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the largest investment in fighting climate change on the national level this country has ever seen. The IRA is a huge deal and fundamentally changes the game for our work here at the state level. On August 31, we held a webinar to discuss the IRA and its impact on three levels: on individual consumers who want to go green, on towns and cities, and on the state. Here is the webinar recording, as well as a summary and clips of each individual section. Enjoy!

Read More

Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Electric vehicles/Transportation, Electricity and the grid, Energy efficiency, Climate change, Phasing out fossil fuels

No New Gas Cars After 2035?

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Friday, September 09, 2022 @ 09:30 AM

Read More

Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Massachusetts, Electric vehicles/Transportation, Rhode Island

One Day, Two Kids, 600+ Miles: From Massachusetts to Virginia in an Electric Car

Posted by Nicole Cooper, Guest Blogger on Friday, September 02, 2022 @ 03:55 PM

When we talk about electric cars at Green Energy Consumers, we often get questions about road trips. How do you drive hundreds of miles with a battery electric vehicle? How do you plan where to charge? Does it take forever? That's why we love featuring real stories from real people about their experience driving electric. Here's a guest blog from our friend Nicole about her family's trip from Massachusetts to Virginia in a fully-electric car. (This blog refers to the different types of charging and plugs. If you need a refresher, check out our charging basics page!)

Read More

Tags: Electric vehicles/Transportation, Guest blog/Member spotlight

Guest Blogpost: Mass Fleet Advisor

Posted by Jennifer Kritzler, CALSTART, and Kristen Patnaude, PowerOptions on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 @ 03:29 PM

Note: At Green Energy Consumers, we know that we need to rapidly electrify all forms of transportation – especially including medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which disproportionately contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and localized air pollution. We're excited to post this guest blogpost from Jenny Kritzler at CALSTART and Kristen Patneaude from PowerOptions, who are working with MassCEC to offer Mass Fleet Advisor. If you have a private or nonprofit fleet that you'd like to electrify, read on!

Read More

Tags: Massachusetts, Electric vehicles/Transportation, Guest blog/Member spotlight

The New Federal Tax Credit for EVs

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Monday, August 22, 2022 @ 02:50 PM

Read More

Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Electric vehicles/Transportation