While much attention has been focused on the impending leadership change in Washington, two New England states – Vermont and New Hampshire – will inaugurate new governors in January. Here in Vermont, we are looking forward to working with Governor-elect Scott, as we have with Vermont’s governors – both Republican and Democrat – throughout our 50-year history.…
Dec 7
2016
2016
Dec 2
2016
2016
Maine Rejects Big Gas’s Gamble – For Now
Last week, the Maine Public Utilities Commission closed the latest chapter (for now) in the ongoing saga that is the demise of Spectra’s Access Northeast Project when it decided to indefinitely postpone its proceedings on the ill-conceived natural gas pipeline proposal. Previously, the Commission decided to move forward with a contract for natural gas capacity…
Nov 3
2016
2016
Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Massachusetts’ Path Forward
In a recent Executive Order, Governor Baker broke his silence on this summer’s landmark decision by Massachusetts’ highest court on the Global Warming Solutions Act. The Court’s decision in Kain v. Dept. of Environmental Protection unanimously confirmed that Baker’s administration must act decisively to ensure the Commonwealth meets the Global Warming Solutions Act’s 2020 cap…
Oct 25
2016
2016
Your Voice Needed to Support Rooftop Solar in New Hampshire
The Public Utilities Commission currently holds the future of rooftop solar in New Hampshire in its hands. Entrenched interests in New Hampshire are fighting the burgeoning growth of rooftop solar in the state. But CLF knows that rooftop solar powers homes and supports the electric grid. Even more importantly, it empowers the fight against climate…
Sep 8
2016
2016
Lessons on Offshore Wind from Copenhagen
Do you remember the energy crisis of the 1970s? Countries like the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe – all overly-reliant on foreign oil – faced oil shortages and spiking prices. Perhaps you’ve seen images of cars lining up to purchase gasoline, or heard stories of gasoline rationing. If your license plate ended in an odd…
Sep 1
2016
2016
Don’t Believe the Hype: Solar Power Benefits All Mainers
Mainers like solar power, they want more of it, and they don’t want to change how solar panel owners are paid for it. That’s the take-home message of comments Maine residents submitted to the state’s Public Utilities Commission in its current proceeding to review how solar power customers are reimbursed for the power they produce.…
Aug 11
2016
2016
Cleaning Up New England’s Energy Market
New England’s regional electric grid operator, ISO-New England (ISO-NE), recently revealed that it is exploring a potential shift in how our region’s energy markets work. Although made with little fanfare, the announcement of what ISO-NE is calling its “Integrating Markets and Public Policy” (IMAPP) initiative (which begins today with a members-only “solution ideas day” in…
Aug 10
2016
2016
Settlement with Electric Utilities Could Deliver More Energy Efficiency to New Hampshire
UPDATE: The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission approved a settlement establishing the state’s first numerical energy efficiency standard on August 2, 2016. Thanks to this decision, families and businesses across New Hampshire can look forward to lower energy bills and cleaner air. You can read more about the settlement below. A groundbreaking deal has been…
Jun 15
2016
2016
Energy Efficiency: Back on the Chopping Block
One year ago, CLF was fighting to ensure Maine’s energy savings champion – Efficiency Maine Trust – could receive the funding needed to reduce your electricity bill, create clean-energy-sector jobs, strengthen the economy, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. CLF and our allies won that battle. But the war is not over. This year, the fight turned to whether Efficiency…
Jun 14
2016
2016
Invenergy Knowingly Exaggerated the Cost Savings to Customers from Its Proposed Power Plant
Invenergy has a proposal before Rhode Island’s Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB) to build a new 900-megawatt fossil-fuel plant in Burrillville. CLF is litigating in both the EFSB and the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to prevent Invenergy from getting the permits it needs. Today, CLF is filing in the PUC the testimony of two…