Energy
11 SMART questions answered: the facts on Massachusetts’ new solar program
Released last Wednesday (September 26), the much-awaited regulations for the SMART program, will impact solar development in Massachusetts for the coming years. The new program is complicated, so to make it easier to understand we answered eleven of the most...
Boston Development is Missing Out On Climate Innovation
Today was energy efficiency day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Communities across the state are setting ambitious goals to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. However setting goals is easy, meeting them is the challenge. When it comes to achieving their energy...
Can States Really Go 100% Renewable?
California commanded headlines last week when Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill committing the state to go 100% renewable in its electric sector. The move is significant, as California is the most populous state, and the 5th largest economy in the world....
Trump’s Replacement Clean Power Plan Underscores Need for State Leadership
On Tuesday, the Trump administration revealed its replacement of the Obama-era Clean Power Plan (CPP). Dubbed the ‘Dirty Power Plan’ by opponents, it significantly sets back existing efforts and provides a financial boon to coal plants. This is the latest...
Big Step Forward for Appliance Energy Efficiency
BY TIM CRONIN, JULY 13th 2018 A bill to update the state’s aging appliance efficiency standards has crossed a significant hurdle in the Statehouse. Yesterday, the Massachusetts House voted unanimously to adopt the measure, sending it to the Senate, which is...
Are Microgrids the key to energy resilience? Lessons from Hurricane Maria
BY JACKIE RYAN , JUNE 7, 2018 A day without power almost seems impossible in today’s fast-paced, industrialized world. With electricity powering household appliances, utilities, and handheld devices, it can be difficult to imagine life without it. The US power grid...
WHAT IS THE CLEAN PEAK STANDARD AND WILL WE SEE IT IN MA?
BY JONAH KURMAN-FABER, APRIL 3rd, 2018 A couple of weeks ago, Gov. Baker announced a $1.4 billion bond bill tackling some of Massachusetts’ most pressing climate adaptation needs. Using bond funding, the bill addresses conservation and recreation, climate change prevention and...
The Real Reason Your Energy Bill Surged Last Month
by JONAH KURMAN-FABER POLICY AND RESEARCH FELLOW On February 12th, the Boston Globe put out an editorial that blames environmental advocates and their “pipeline absolutism” as the main culprit behind the high electricity and heating prices that burdened Massachusetts residents during...
The Blockchain [R]Evolution
by MARIA VIRGINIA OLANO We have all heard of the hype surrounding Bitcoin recently, with an explosion in value that is hard to ignore. If you bought $100 in Bitcoin back in 2011, you would today be worth nearly $4 million....