RECENT BLOG POSTS

MA Clean Energy Day A Success!

MA Clean Energy Day A Success!

Today, The New England Clean Energy Council held its Second Annual Massachusetts Clean Energy Day at the State House in Boston. Numerous member companies representing a broad array of sectors joined NECEC for a day of meetings with legislators, and exhibited in the historic Grand Staircase. Awards were given to...
Member Spotlight - Metabolix

Member Spotlight – Metabolix

The global demand for plastics is increasing 3-5% annually, with exponentially higher demand in developing countries. But what happens to plastic products after they are used? Even recycling results in waste that needs to end up somewhere. Metabolix addresses these challenges with the manufacturing and production of innovative, biobased, compostable...
NECEC Institute Established, Launches CleanzoNE Innovation Portal

NECEC Institute Established, Launches CleanzoNE Innovation Portal

The NECEC Institute today launched CleanzoNE, a new social networking site designed to connect and grow early-stage, cleantech innovations across New England. This announcement comes after a year of profound expansion and growth for the NECEC Institute, formerly known as the New England Clean Energy Foundation, in its focus areas...
7 Awardees Honored at New England Clean Energy Council’s 5th Annual Green Tie Gala

7 Awardees Honored at New England Clean Energy Council’s 5th Annual Green Tie Gala

Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s Green Tie Gala! Most importantly, thank you to Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, who delivered a very compelling keynote address. We’re proud of our awardees, members, sponsors, and most importantly, proud to be a part of this active, innovative and leading-edge clean energy...
Member Spotlight: GreenerU

Member Spotlight: GreenerU

GreenerU is the second company to be featured in our new Member Spotlight. GreenerU works with colleges and universities in achieving their sustainability and energy goals. The company was founded in 2009 by CEO Rob Pratt, one of the founders of the New England Clean Energy Council. He was joined...
New Member Spotlight: Resolute Marine Energy

New Member Spotlight: Resolute Marine Energy

New England Clean Energy Council has just begun a new Member Spotlight project, where we will regularly feature a Member company and its experiences on our blog. We are kicking things off with Resolute Marine Energy, a startup developing the world’s first wave-driven desalination system. Resolute uses wave-powered technology to...
Governor Patrick Signs Massachusetts Energy Bill

Governor Patrick Signs Massachusetts Energy Bill

The New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC) applauds Governor Deval Patrick for supporting and signing into law new energy legislation that will expand the benefits of clean and renewable energy to more Massachusetts energy customers. NECEC praises Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Energy Committee Co-Chairs Sen....
City of Lowell Completes Major Energy Efficiency Project

City of Lowell Completes Major Energy Efficiency Project

State Officials, Ameresco Representatives, and City Leaders at the Ceremony The City of Lowell held a ribbon cutting ceremony today to celebrate the completion of a major energy efficiency project, which was conducted by Ameresco. This $21.1 million energy savings performance contract extended to 47 buildings in the city, including...
Iraq War Veteran: Military Use of Clean Energy Saves Lives

Iraq War Veteran: Military Use of Clean Energy Saves Lives

In a letter to the Boston Globe, former Air Force officer Justin Ashton writes that U.S. troops risk their lives protecting fuel convoys, and discusses the military’s efforts to use alternative fuels and renewable energy to reduce the military’s dependence on foreign oil. The Senate Armed Services Committee voted in...
Latest entries

Adoption rates increase utility interest in renewable energy

As declines in the cost of renewable energy projects continue, opportunities for collaboration have grown. Last week, Bloomberg’s Julie Johnsson outlined a unique partnership between Ted Turner and Southern Co. to develop solar farms in the southwest region of the U.S. Five large solar projects have been jointly purchased since 2010 by the philanthropist and...

NECEC Congratulates Ernest Moniz on Confirmation as Energy Secretary

The New England Clean Energy Council offers its congratulations on the confirmation of Ernest Moniz as Secretary of Energy. Professor Moniz’s role leading the MIT Energy Initiative has been important to the growth of clean and renewable energy in New England. His leadership as undersecretary of energy and as associate director of the White House...

RGGI will let the region thrive

The following pice by Chris Meyer originally appeared on Seacoast Online on Monday, May 13th. Back in 2008, one year into the Great Recession, I started a brand-new business. Crazy? Just the opposite. My company, Yankee Thermal Imaging, makes money by helping New Englanders save money on energy. We test buildings with cutting-edge technology that...

NH Telegraph Oped: Republicans Should Embrace RGGI

The following oped in favor of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) ran in the Nashua Telegraph in New Hampshre on Sunday, May 5. Author Charlie Niebling is a consultant and former general manager for New England Wood Pellet, a privately held renewable-energy company with 80 employees, based in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Many sound reasons Republicans should embrace...

Gov. Patrick: MA Solar Target Reached 4 Years Early; New Goal Set

Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the solar goal set in 2007 of 250 megawatts of residential and commercial solar energy installed in the Commonwealth has been reached four years early, and set an ambitious new goal of 1,600 MW by 2020. Gov. Patrick was joined by Energy & Environmental Affair Secretary Rick Sullivan and...

Lowering Energy Costs In Maine – In Support of LD 1426

NECEC submitted testimony in Maine yesterday in support of LD 1426, An Act to Improve Maine’s Economy and Lower Energy Costs Through Energy Efficiency. The Act brings the benefits of greater energy efficiency to Maine’s energy consumers by encouraging Maine’s energy efficiency provider, the Efficiency Maine Trust, to procure all cost-effective, reliable and achievable energy...

MA Launches Innovative Dashboard to Track Emissions Reductions

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) today launched a new dashboard for Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) initiatives. Said EEA Secretary Rick Sullivan: As we celebrate Earth Day, it is appropriate to announce a practical tool that will help us gauge our success in protecting the environment. This will allow us to...

NECEC Urges Support for NH HB 306, RGGI Emissions Cap Reduction

The following letter was sent to New Hampshire leadership regarding approval of the reduction of the carbon emissions cap for states participating in RGGI – the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.   Dear Chairman Prescott and Senators Bradley, Fuller Clark, Woodburn and Odell: This week, the Committee considered HB 306, legislation to approve the reduction of...

The Global Clean Energy Race – New Report by the Pew Charitable Trusts

This morning, the Pew Charitable Trusts released “Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?” a report outlining research into the global status of clean energy during 2012.  Working with data compiled by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the Pew report chronicles investment both globally and among the Group of 20 (G-20) nations. Partially due to the curtailing of...

Bangor Daily News: RGGI Energy Efficiency Dedication Leads to Lasting Payoffs

The Bangor Daily News published an editorial describing where  Maine Gov. Paul LePage’s bill, LD 1425, needs improvement. The Governor’s Bill has been introduced by Rep. Dunphy (R), ranking minority member on the Energy Committee. The editorial points out that the bill has good elements, with the goal of lowering energy costs and reducing dependence on fossil...

Renewable energy is in everyone’s interest

The following piece was featured in the Concord Monitor on April 9th, 2013: In a recent column the New England Ratepayers Association’s Marc Brown incorrectly claims that ratepayers are being forced to buy expensive electricity under the state’s renewable portfolio standard when cheaper alternatives exist, and at no value to us (“Green energy hits ratepayers’...

CT Town Builds First Solar Powered Train Station in Nation

Earlier this week, Connecticut state and city leaders celebrated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first solar powered train station in the country. Energy to power the train station, four charging stations for electric vehicles, and station lights will now be supplied by 52 new rooftop solar panels. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, Commissioner of the Department...