EarlyBird News

​Mayor Michelle Wu has announced the approval of an amendment to Boston’s zoning code to incorporate Net Zero Carbon (NZC) Zoning. This pioneering policy mandates that most new large buildings permitted after July 1, 2025, must achieve net zero carbon emissions upon opening. ​ Buildings account for nearly 71% of Boston’s carbon emissions. The NZC […]

Ontario has imposed a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to Minnesota, Michigan, and New York in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods. The new fee adds C$10 ($7) per megawatt-hour to power exports, potentially generating up to C$400,000 daily to support Ontario’s economy. New York sourced about 4.4% of its electricity from […]

Experts anticipate that President Donald Trump’s recent tariffs on imports from Canada, China, and Mexico will lead to increased costs for New England residents, particularly affecting gasoline, food, and other essential items. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has warned that these tariffs could cause energy prices in the state to “skyrocket” if implemented as planned. […]

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has ordered natural gas distribution companies to reduce residential and low-income customer bills by at least 5% for March and April 2025 due to high winter costs. These reductions must be proposed by February 24 and take effect March 1. The DPU did not specify whether cuts should […]

During a cold snap in the week of January 19, 2025, New England experienced below-average temperatures, leading to increased electricity demand. On January 21 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, ISO-New England (ISO-NE) reported a peak hourly demand of 19,600 megawatts (MW). To meet this demand, the region utilized oil and coal-fired power plants, which are […]

Proposed tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports could lead to higher electricity prices in the U.S. A 25% tariff on Canadian electricity could add $290 million annually to New York’s energy costs and $100 million to Massachusetts. These increases may also raise prices for goods that rely on energy for production and transportation. Diversifying energy […]

On January 22, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing the disbursement of funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This action is part of a broader initiative titled “Terminating the Green New Deal,” aiming to reassess and potentially […]

Shares of Edison International dropped after an investigation raised concerns over whether equipment from Southern California Edison contributed to the Hurst and Eaton fires in Los Angeles. The company’s stock fell 14% to $55.66 Monday, marking its biggest drop since March 16, 2020. For the month, shares are down 31%. Last week, SoCal began shutting […]

In 2024, solar energy significantly enhanced New England’s electricity grid, with solar power contributing to the region’s energy mix at unprecedented levels. This surge was particularly notable during peak demand periods, such as hot summer days, when solar generation effectively reduced the strain on the grid. The increase in solar capacity is largely attributed to […]

In early January 2025, President Joe Biden issued a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling across more than 625 million acres of U.S. federal waters. This action affects the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea. Biden utilized the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act […]