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Massachusetts Legislators Address Energy Affordability with Proposed Bill Reforms

Massachusetts Legislators Address Energy Affordability with Proposed Bill Reforms

Massachusetts legislators are working on energy bills aimed at improving affordability and addressing climate change, with both the House and Senate passing their respective versions. A key focus is reforming 'Basic Service,' the default electricity supply option provided by utilities. Currently, Basic Service customers face higher premiums, estimated by Synapse Energy Economics to add $22 per month to residential bills, due to utilities' reliance on short-term contracts and limited supplier participation in auctions. In contrast, municipal aggregation programs often offer lower rates by securing long-term contracts. The proposed legislation seeks to give utilities more flexibility in power supply contracts, which could reduce exposure to price spikes and diversify suppliers. Additionally, both bills include provisions for 'flexible interconnection,' a method to reduce costs and accelerate the connection of clean energy projects to the grid by allowing projects to occasionally disconnect.

Massachusetts Legislators Debate Energy Bills to Address Affordability and Climate Goals

Massachusetts Legislators Debate Energy Bills to Address Affordability and Climate Goals

Massachusetts legislators are currently debating energy bills in both the House and Senate, aiming to address energy affordability and climate change. A key focus of these bills is reforming 'Basic Service,' the default electricity supply option provided by utilities. Currently, Basic Service customers face higher premiums due to utilities' reliance on short-term contracts and limited power suppliers, leading to increased bills. Synapse Energy Economics estimates these premiums add $22 per month for residential customers. Both legislative chambers have included provisions to give utilities more flexibility in signing power supply contracts, which could reduce price volatility and dependency on a few suppliers. Additionally, both bills propose requiring major utilities to offer 'flexible interconnection' for clean energy projects, a method that has successfully boosted solar, wind, and battery installations in Texas by reducing connection costs.

Scott Colom to be Mississippi's first Black senator since Reconstruction

Scott Colom to be Mississippi's first Black senator since Reconstruction

Scott Colom will become Mississippi's third Black senator. The other two served during the Reconstruction era.

Massachusetts Legislature Considers Energy Bills to Enhance Affordability and Combat Climate Change

Massachusetts Legislature Considers Energy Bills to Enhance Affordability and Combat Climate Change

Both the Massachusetts House and Senate have passed energy bills aimed at improving energy affordability and addressing climate change, though with some differences. Key provisions in both bills include requiring major utilities to offer flexible interconnection as an option for developers, which could accelerate the buildout of renewable energy projects. The bills also propose reforms to 'Basic Service' electricity supply, allowing utilities more flexibility in signing power supply contracts to potentially reduce price volatility and dependency on a limited number of suppliers. Other shared policies include regulations for third-party electric supply, consumer protection for solar customers, measures to cut red tape for solar installations, legalization of plug-in solar, and support for 'virtual power plants.' Additionally, both bills aim to end support for new gas-burning units through the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard. The legislative efforts are driven by a desire to pass a comprehensive energy...

Massachusetts Experiences Chilly Rain and Light Snowfall Across Various Regions

Massachusetts Experiences Chilly Rain and Light Snowfall Across Various Regions

On November 13, 2026, Massachusetts experienced a mix of chilly rain and light snowfall across different parts of the state. While most areas reported rain, higher elevations saw some snowfall. Weather spotters across the state reported these conditions to the National Weather Service. Snowfall totals included 3.0 inches in East Hawley and 1.4 inches in Shelburne Falls in Franklin County, with smaller amounts reported in Worcester County, such as 0.5 inches in Royalston and 0.4 inches in Paxton. Rainfall was more widespread, with significant amounts in Berkshire County, including 1.03 inches in New Ashford, and in Franklin County, with Buckland receiving 1.13 inches. Other counties like Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Hampden, Hampshire, and Middlesex also reported varying rainfall totals.

Comedian Samantha Bee to Perform 'How to Survive Menopause' in Great Barrington, Massachusetts

Comedian Samantha Bee to Perform 'How to Survive Menopause' in Great Barrington, Massachusetts

Comedian Samantha Bee to Perform 'How to Survive Menopause' in Great Barrington, Massachusetts

FM Global Relocates Headquarters to Providence, Sends Workers to Massachusetts, Announces Layoffs

FM Global Relocates Headquarters to Providence, Sends Workers to Massachusetts, Announces Layoffs

FM Global Relocates Headquarters to Providence, Sends Workers to Massachusetts, Announces Layoffs

American Insulated Panel Recognized as SBA's 2026 Massachusetts Small Manufacturer of the Year

American Insulated Panel Recognized as SBA's 2026 Massachusetts Small Manufacturer of the Year

American Insulated Panel Recognized as SBA's 2026 Massachusetts Small Manufacturer of the Year

Massachusetts Pioneers Agrivoltaics with Cranberry Bogs Under Solar Panels

Massachusetts Pioneers Agrivoltaics with Cranberry Bogs Under Solar Panels

Massachusetts is advancing agrivoltaics, a dual-use solar strategy, by integrating solar panels above active agricultural operations. This initiative allows farmland to generate energy while simultaneously supporting crop growth or livestock grazing. Notably, two cranberry bogs in Kingston and Plymouth are the first in the country, and possibly the world, to successfully grow cranberries beneath operational solar installations. This fall marks the second harvest season for cranberries under these panels. Distributed Energy Infrastructure, led by co-founder Prateek Tare, constructed these projects, which include a 4.4-megawatt array with a 13.5-megawatt-hour battery in Kingston and a 1-MW solar array in Plymouth. The state has been offering solar incentives since 2001 and became the first in 2018 to provide additional financial boosts for dual-use solar projects. Agrivoltaic projects receive an extra 9 cents per kilowatt-hour on top of the base rate of 23.17 cents for arrays between 1 MW and 5 MW, making th...

Lowell Sun Serves as Vital Archive for Merrimack Valley Obituaries and Local History

Lowell Sun Serves as Vital Archive for Merrimack Valley Obituaries and Local History

The Lowell Sun, established in 1878, continues to be a crucial resource for archiving and publishing obituaries in the Greater Lowell area and the broader Merrimack Valley. The publication serves as a primary record-keeper of personal histories, connecting residents across northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. It covers Lowell, known for its textile mills and historical parks, as well as surrounding towns like Chelmsford, Billerica, and Dracut, and extends into southern New Hampshire communities. Obituaries in The Lowell Sun document demographic shifts, from early Irish, French-Canadian, and Greek immigrants to more recent Cambodian and Latino communities. For modern obituaries (2000s to present), The Lowell Sun partners with Legacy.com for an interactive online database. Historical obituaries (pre-2000s) can be found through physical archives at the Pollard Memorial Library and UMass Lowell Libraries, or via online genealogical platforms.

U.S. Representative Seth Moulton to Host Annual Veterans Town Hall in Marblehead

U.S. Representative Seth Moulton to Host Annual Veterans Town Hall in Marblehead

U.S. Representative Seth Moulton (D-Massachusetts) is scheduled to host his annual Veterans Town Hall tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Abbot Hall in Marblehead. This event provides a platform for local veterans to share their experiences and stories. A notable attendee will be one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, who is also slated to speak. The town hall follows a Veterans Day ceremony held earlier in the day at Abbot Hall, which featured patriotic songs by the Marblehead High School chorus and a dedication of a Missing Man table and POW/MIA chair. Retired U.S. Army veteran Todd Bajakian also spoke at the earlier ceremony, emphasizing the importance of encouraging more Massachusetts residents to serve in the military. The permanent display of the Missing Man table and POW/MIA chair on the second floor of Abbot Hall honors Marblehead service members who did not return home.

The Latest: Efforts to impeach Pete Hegseth are blocked by House Republicans

The Latest: Efforts to impeach Pete Hegseth are blocked by House Republicans

The House has turned aside a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his conduct in office and handling of the war against Iran, which some Republicans blame for sweeping election losses