With federal roadblocks to clean energy, Massachusetts is eyeing Canadian offshore wind to meet climate goals and make the grid more affordable. But the switch could mean fewer local jobs and potential transmission infrastructure hurdles ahead.
Energy
Posted inEnergy
In enforcing new climate law, a dispute over the ‘obligation to serve’ natural gas customers
Massachusetts’ 2024 climate law aims to hasten the clean energy transition to meet the state’s climate goals, but a dispute over whether natural gas utility companies have an “obligation to serve” natural gas could stall the transition off of fossil-fuel infrastructure.
Posted inEnergy
Healey again puts offshore wind on back burner
Bowing to opposition from President Trump, the Healey administration on Monday put its offshore wind plans on hold yet again and said it is committed to an “all-of-the-above approach to energy.”
Posted inEnvironment
DEP delays electric vehicle sales requirements for two years
The Healey administration announced it will not enforce minimum electric vehicle sales requirements for model years 2026 and 2027.
Posted inEnergy
Healey unveils new energy affordability legislation
“I believe that this legislation is going to give us the tools that we need to create more accountability for our utilities and maximize every single ratepayer dollar,” said Gov. Maura Healey, at a press conference announcing her new energy affordability legislation in Leominster.
Posted inEnvironment
Greater Boston municipal leaders recommit to climate goals
“While this federal administration trades the truth for profits, we will continue showing the nationthat we are still fighting for a better, brighter future,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on Monday at the Museum of Science where 17 municipal leaders signed a commitment to climategoals.
Posted inEnvironment
How these Massachusetts communities are pushing forward to meet state climate goals
In the absence of federal funding and support, municipalities feel added challenges on their paths to net zero but many chug along with the state’s help in projects to decarbonize buildings, municipal fleets, and put up solar arrays.
Posted inEnvironment
Utility companies target heat pump incentives for cuts to pare back Mass Save budget
“These cuts represent some of the best options of bad options,” said Kyle Murray, the Massachusetts program director at the Acadia Center about the new compliance plan for Mass Save, which reduces the budget for heat pump incentives and program to help residents use one vendor for energy efficiency upgrades.
Posted inOpinion
Abundance with input: We can build housing and energy systems without ignoring community concerns
Collaborative processes structured to include the needs and expertise of citizens can lead to sustainable and effective outcomes when paired with clear policy goals, firm process constraints, and effective leadership.
Posted inPolitics
Trump’s shadow looms as offshore wind price negotiation deadline missed
The latest delay was the second time since Trump was elected that the two sides have failed to meet a deadline and contract negotiations had to be extended.
Posted inState House News Service
Mass. legislators visited Canadian renewable power operations
The trip comes as state energy policies shaped through a series of clean energy laws are suddenly at odds with the new direction of federal energy policy under President Donald Trump.
Posted inEnergy
After heating bills spike, Healey announces $50 credit for electric customers
Gov. Maura Healey announced a plan on Monday to save ratepayers in Massachusetts up to $5.8 billion on their energy bills in the next five years, with immediate relief in the form of a $50 credit for residential customers on electricity bills in April.
Posted inEnergy
EPA move to undermine greenhouse gas regulation will hurt US competitiveness, says former Mass. energy official
“Pollution knows no state boundary, nor does heat, drought or intense storms.” – Former Mass. energy undersecretary Barbara Kates-Garnick on the Trump administration’s attempt to weaken a rule that underpins the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.
Posted inEnergy
The $500 million cut to Mass Save budget is ‘short-sighted,’ climate activists say
“Like a lot of stuff in the climate world, this decision is going to save people money in the short term but cost us more money in the long term.” – Vickash Mohanka, head of the Massachusetts Sierra Club.
Posted inEnergy
Three federal grants targeting diesel fuel emissions are now unavailable to Massachusetts
“Even today as we speak we have not had funding turned back on for a number of areas,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “And that is very disruptive. It’s harmful to our state, our residents, to our businesses, and to our economy.”
Posted inEnergy
National Grid pulls plug on a geothermal pilot program in Lowell
One of three geothermal pilot programs in Massachusetts to displace fossil fuels for heating and cooling has been quietly scrapped. National Grid has cited high costs for pulling the plug on its project in Lowell.
Posted inEnergy
Replacing fossil fuel-fired ‘peaker plants’ can help Massachusetts meet climate goals, according to new report
New report says that replacing fossil fuel-fired “peaker plants” can help Massachusetts meet climate goals. Advocates say that these power plants are the “worst offenders with the dirtiest per unit of energy produced.”
Posted inEnergy
Wellesley battery expected to save town residents $8m over 20 years
The batteries will charge up during overnight hours when the price of electricity is generally low and then discharge their power into the town’s electric grid during peak demand periods, typically from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., when electricity prices are high.
Posted inOpinion
Denmark’s approach to decarbonizing offers lessons worth replicating
What I saw was remarkable. Denmark has positioned itself as an economic thought leader in the new energy economy. While the demographic, political, and social context may not match the whole of the US, I believe Denmark can teach us many lessons – particularly in Massachusetts, which is similar in population and climate.
Posted inEnergy
Senate considering new model for developing clean energy
The senator said the proposal is essentially a new business model for developing clean energy, one that does away with the current plodding procurement process involving the Legislature and utilities and instead gives the governor near-total control.
Posted inEnergy
Threading the region’s electricity needle
“The question of whether or not we will be in good shape or not five to 10 years from now is very much going to be a function of whether we can get that offshore wind industry up and going and interconnected into the system. And there are some troubling signs at the moment,” said Gordon van Welie.
Posted inEnergy
DPU approves utility deals with Everett LNG terminal
The ruling, released on Friday, approved gas supply contracts between Constellation and National Grid, Eversource, and Unitil that will keep the Everett Marine Terminal running even as its largest customer, the Constellation-owned Mystic Generating Station next door, closes at the end of this month.
Posted inOpinion
Housing challenge brings with it an energy challenge
Left unaddressed, the cost and availability of energy are poised to become deciding factors on when, where, and how fast new housing developments are built.
Posted inOpinion
Getting to yes on siting energy projects
Our studies suggest that the key is carefully structured negotiations that lead to enforceable agreement. At the project level, this is accomplished through enforceable community benefit agreements, or CBAs.
