Exactly a year ago, as families prepared for a brutal winter night, National Grid cut gas service to more than 7,000 customers on Aquidneck Island. With another New England winter upon us, it’s also worth noting that Rhode Island could avoid these types of emergencies entirely by switching from fossil fuels like gas to clean alternatives powered by solar and wind.
Jan 22
2020
2020
Turn off the Gas
Winter snow and ice bring out Big Gas’s fearmongers. Why is the region’s electric grid operator among them?
Dec 10
2019
2019
Dirty, Fracked Gas Is a Dead End for New England
Fracked gas was once considered part of a lower-carbon future. But this volatile, dangerous, and polluting fossil fuel now needs to be shown the door. Thankfully, as New England’s growing investment in cleaner energy ramps up, this transition is becoming easier. But standing in its way are the last gasps of the dirty fossil fuel industry. And they are not going quietly.
Oct 30
2019
2019
Report on Aquidneck Island Gas Disaster Released
“Customers should absolutely not be straddled with higher bills because of the mistakes of utilities,” said Amy Moses, Vice President and Director of CLF Rhode Island. “But the report’s suggestion of reducing demand for gas simply doesn’t go far enough. We need to get off dirty fracked gas and focus on clean renewables, not expand infrastructure that only harms our air and destroys our climate.”
Sep 13
2019
2019
Merrimack Gas Explosions: A Tragic Byproduct of Natural Gas
UPDATE: It’s the one-year anniversary of the Merrimack Valley gas explosion, and communities are still recovering from the disaster. It’s a stark reminder that we need to prioritize the health and safety of our communities, which means getting off dirty gas. Our aging gas infrastructure is expensive, leaky, and dangerous. We have cleaner, safer alternatives like electric stoves and hot water heaters ready to go. It’s time to swap out polluting gas for clean energy that doesn’t run the risk of exploding.
May 13
2019
2019
Why We Need to Ditch Fracked Gas Immediately
Here in New England, we rely too much on fracked gas to heat and power our homes and businesses. If we want to avoid a climate catastrophe, we need to end fossil fuel use by 2050.
Mar 14
2019
2019
Why We Don’t Need to Worry About Cold Snaps in New England
It’s hardly news that temperatures in New England drop below freezing in winter. But as CLF has long argued, we have plenty of fuel to get through even the coldest winters unscathed, without footing the bill for a polluting new pipeline. And on top of that, if we want to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change, we must stop using dirty fuels like gas altogether.
Jan 9
2019
2019
How Much Do You Really Know About Gas?
The Big Gas industry talks about fracked gas as a “clean” alternative to polluting fossil fuels like coal or oil. But how much do we really know about it as a fuel source? Test your knowledge with this 2-minute quiz.
Oct 9
2018
2018
Unwanted Invenergy Plant Faces Powerful Setbacks
In an unprecedented display of no confidence, our energy grid operator terminated its legal relationship with Invenergy. It’s yet another nail in the coffin on this unneeded, unwanted, fracked-gas power plant.
Oct 4
2018
2018
Landmark Law Leads to Climate Victory in Massachusetts
CLF dismissed three appeals challenging the permits for two new gas-fired power plants after Massachusetts’ highest court reaffirmed that lowering climate-damaging emissions is the law of the land in the Commonwealth.