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

Green Power Member Spotlight: Michele Putko

Posted by Charlie Davies on Thursday, July 13, 2017 @ 10:16 AM

The “Member Spotlight” series highlights the individuals that make our organization great. Each post tells the story of an outstanding Mass Energy or PP&L member. By sharing their stories we hope to spread the word about their unique efforts and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.


While waiting in her car in Brookline to pick up one of her kids, Michele Putko noticed a lawn sign that read "I Switched to 100% Green Energy, and So Can You. Visit www.massenergy.org." Having previously ruled out solar panels for her home, Putko enrolled in Mass Energy’s New England GreenStart option with the information she gathered from the sign. In a world of unwanted and misleading solicitation regarding “green energy” and ambiguous energy rates, Putko found Mass Energy extremely transparent and reliable.

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Tags: Guest blog/Member spotlight, Our programs

Guest Blog: Demand Response 101 with Mass Energy Volunteer Expert, Elisa Grammer

Posted by Elisa Grammer, Guest Blogger on Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 08:23 AM

For the past year, Elisa Grammer has been helping Mass Energy intervene in proceedings at the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). She has assisted our Clean Energy Program Director, Eugenia Gibbons, and Executive Director, Larry Chretien, in writing pleadings related to the Massachusetts three-year energy efficiency plan and electric grid modernization. We have also benefitted from Elisa’s expertise and time in opposing the proposed electricity ratepayer financing of new fracked gas pipeline construction. Even before the release of the reliability study by Analysis Group (commissioned by the AG’s office), Elisa helped Mass Energy argue that utilities should be investing more substantially in energy efficiency and demand response rather than looking to saddle ratepayers with the costs of new gas infrastructure. The Analysis Group report, further validated this point of view and determined that even in a stressed scenario, energy efficiency and demand response both ensure reliability in the cheapest way possible and while delivering environmental benefits, too.

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Tags: Electricity and the grid, Guest blog/Member spotlight

Guest Blog: Volunteering for Clean Energy Policy in MA

Posted by Andy Zucker, Guest Blogger on Friday, October 21, 2016 @ 12:17 PM

More than a year ago Andy Zucker asked Larry Chretien whether it would be useful if he volunteered to help Mass Energy lobby the state legislature to increase the Renewable Portfolio Standard requiring more renewable energy in our electricity supply. Larry said ‘yes’ and since that time h has met with many legislators and legislative staff. We asked if he would write a Guest Blog, which follows:

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Massachusetts, Guest blog/Member spotlight

Member Spotlight: Ricard Torres-MateLuna and Christine Hatch, happy heat pump owners

Posted by Anna Vanderspek on Friday, December 11, 2015 @ 06:00 AM

If you’re looking to reduce your energy consumption and want an example of how Mass Energy and People’s Power & Light can help, look no further than the family of Ricard Torres-MateLuna and Christine Hatch. As Massachusetts residents, they joined Mass Energy in 2014. Since then, these members have reduced their environmental footprint and cut down their energy bills not only by making their home more energy efficient, but also by participating in our Discount Heating Oil Service, our Mass Solar Connect program, and our pilot Heat Pump Program (MA only). A RI solar program is coming soon! Subscribe to this blog to hear all about it when it happens.

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Tags: Home heating, Guest blog/Member spotlight

ReNewable Now: Hydro, Going Strong at the Birthplace of America's Industrial Revolution

Posted by ReNewable Now on Friday, November 20, 2015 @ 01:24 PM

Guest blog originally posted on ReNewable Now's website about our tour of the Pawtucket Hydro Facility on Nov 7, 2015.

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Tags: Renewable energy, Guest blog/Member spotlight, Rhode Island

Timmons Roberts: The greenest thing to do

Posted by Timmons Roberts on Monday, November 16, 2015 @ 11:40 AM

Guest blog originally posted in the Providence Journal on Nov. 13, 2015.

Last summer, I took about five minutes and switched my electricity from National Grid’s regular plan to a group called People’s Power and Light, which sources electricity from all renewables here in our own region. In those five minutes, I did more to combat climate change than perhaps anything else I do.

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Tags: Guest blog/Member spotlight, Our programs

Green Power Member Spotlight: David Stephenson

Posted by Sophie Flynn on Saturday, August 22, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

The “Member Spotlight” series highlights the individuals that make our organization great. Each post tells the story of an outstanding Mass Energy or PP&L member. By sharing their stories we hope to spread the word about their unique efforts and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

Read More

Tags: Guest blog/Member spotlight, Our programs

Green Power Member Spotlight: Susanne Altenburger

Posted by Puanoa A. Higginson on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 @ 03:16 PM

The “Member Spotlight” series highlights the individuals that make our organization great. Each post tells the story of an outstanding Mass Energy or PP&L member. By sharing their stories we hope to spread the word about their unique efforts and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

Meet Susanne Altenburger, New England GreenStart member since 2009 and long-time energy efficiency expert. As she explains “there is a certain philosophy behind the price you pay when you have bad habits.” Eliminating these energy “bad habits” through efficiency is key for Susanne. After researching the fundamentals of and determining what low-carbon construction is all about, she found that many of us spend way too much money on wasted energy. By minimizing her wasted energy and greening up the small amount of energy she does use with Mass Energy, Altenburger has forged a model energy lifestyle.

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Tags: Guest blog/Member spotlight, Our programs

Guest Blog: Regulatory Review A Dangerous Path

Posted by Emily Norton, Guest Blogger on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 @ 12:20 PM

Baker's call to streamline rules threatens forward-looking Massachusetts policies

Originally published on www.CommonwealthMag.org.  Read the original article here.

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Tags: Energy policy & advocacy, Massachusetts, Guest blog/Member spotlight

Guest Blog: With Rising Electric Prices, Consumer Caution Urged

Posted by Laura Spark, Guest Blogger on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 @ 09:44 AM

By Laura Spark, Guest Blogger

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Tags: Electricity and the grid, Guest blog/Member spotlight