We shouldn't be forced to rely on an outdated, dirty fuel to keep our homes comfortable. Photo: Shutterstock.
There is truly nothing better than a New England summer, especially when it comes to holiday weekends spent barbecuing with friends and family. Sipping on a Sam Summer or an ice-cold lemonade to ease the scorching heat is a hallmark of this season for me. And let’s be honest, it’s a level of heat that didn’t seem possible during the depths of the most recent winter.
Then comes the overwhelming sense of gratitude for central air after walking home from a long day at work and climbing up a four-story walk-up (if you’re lucky enough to have central air, which many New England homes lack). As the Boston Globe reminds us, “New England is feeling heat and humidity increase,” and I can confirm that yes, I’m feeling both. But with the second heat wave of the summer over, and several hotter days on the horizon, how can New Englanders stay cool without emptying our wallets? I am running the AC in my apartment constantly and feeling the cost when my energy bill comes in higher than ever at the end of the month.
None of us want to let go of what makes New England so special, especially our summers. Big Gas wants you to think the answer to the dilemma of how to affordably stay cool in this heat is more of their product. But that’s not true. Here are four reasons why gas isn’t the answer to our energy problems.
1. Gas Drives Climate Change and Heats Up New England
Burning gas to generate the electricity that powers our ACs in the scorching New England summer or heat our homes during a winter Nor’easter releases carbon pollution that overheats the planet. Gas pipelines also leak methane, which is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide pollution when it comes to damaging our climate.
So yes, that blistering heat wave making my four-story walk-up feel like a sauna? Gas helps fuel it. And the bone-chilling cold snaps in the winter? Gas is a culprit there, too.
Gas overheats the planet, the consequent extreme temperatures force us to use more gas, and we all end up paying for it. It’s a vicious cycle that we need to break – and we can’t do that by investing in more pipelines.
2. New Gas Pipelines Mean Higher Bills
The way that electricity prices are determined in the region means gas inflates the cost of cheaper alternatives. Simply put, it’s a bad deal.
Our regional electricity grid operator, ISO New England, sets the price of electricity based on the most expensive power source needed to meet demand. Often, that’s gas. So, when gas prices spike, the cost of all power generation sources rise, and New Englanders pay more.
There’s another way gas spikes your bills. People are already starting to move off gas heating and upgrade to clean, electric heat pumps. But because utilities spread their costs amongst all customers, the remaining (and continuously smaller) customer base will have to pay more to cover the costs of gas infrastructure, like new pipelines. The reality is, we won’t be using as much gas in the next 10 to 20 years, but we will be paying for pipelines for many decades to come. Building more pipelines would lock the region into prolonged gas use and infrastructure costs that will take too much money and time to pay off. That’s not a smart investment. That’s throwing our hard-earned money at a dying system.
3. More Gas Pipelines Will Keep Us Vulnerable to Global Crises
New England doesn’t frack its own gas. We import it from elsewhere in the country, mainly from the Marcellus Shale. But because gas is a global commodity, the prices we pay even for domestic gas are subject to international conflicts we have no control over.
During the coldest periods of winter, when pipeline supply is constrained, we depend on costly international supplies of liquified natural gas. New England’s clean energy investments have somewhat insulated us from fossil fuel price shocks caused by global conflicts. But building more pipelines would undermine this progress and make the volatility and unpredictability of our energy bills even worse.
Unlike investments in clean energy we can generate right here at home, new pipelines would deepen the region’s dependence on an erratic global gas market. Wouldn’t you rather have cleaner, cheaper energy right at your fingertips than transport it from other parts of the country, or even overseas?
4. New England Doesn’t Need More Gas
Good news: New England already has the power it needs, thanks in part to CLF’s work to advocate for clean energy across all six New England states.
ISO New England has confirmed this by saying it has enough power for 2027 and 2028. Even better news, up to 40% of electricity commitments for that time frame come from clean energy and non-carbon emitting sources. ISO projects that, over the next 20 years, renewable energy sources will take over from natural gas as the region’s main source of electricity, marking a cleaner and more affordable future ahead.
Gas Isn’t the Answer. Clean Energy Is.
If new gas pipelines mean hotter summers and higher energy bills, count me out. Because the evidence is clear: New England does not need new gas pipelines to keep our lights on and homes comfortable. We know the answer lies in upgrading to cleaner, cheaper energy. CLF is committed to pushing for this upgrade so that everyone can benefit from a better system that actually works for people and their wallets. No matter where you live or how much you make, you deserve to have a comfortable and cool summer that you can afford. Investing in clean energy is the best way to ensure that the only thing heating up next summer is the grill.
Francesca Gugino was a Clean Energy and Climate Summer Intern for CLF.
