Latest news with #PaulCraney
Boston Globe
01-08-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Heat pump owners to get a break on electric rates to lower winter costs
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up To enroll in the rate program, customers with heat pumps need to contact their utility by November 1. Households with heat pumps installed through Mass Save are automatically enrolled in the rates. Advertisement Mass Save is an incentive program funded by surcharges on utility bills. It offers income-based rebates on heat pump installations and other energy efficiency services at low or no cost. 'With heat pump adoption picking up statewide, these discount rates will further help make a dent in winter heating bills,' said DPU Chair James Van Nostrand in a statement. 'The seasonal rates we approved for heat pump households puts money back into customers' pockets.' Advertisement Despite their name, heat pumps can both heat and cool buildings. They heat homes by extracting heat from outside air and cool homes by extracting heat from indoor air. The technology itself is not new, but earlier versions of heat pumps struggled in cold climates such as New England's. Buildings accounted for about 30 percent of greenhouse gases in Massachusetts in 2021. The state has encouraged residents to transition to heat pumps because their energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions align with the state's More than 90,000 households installed heat pumps through Mass Save from January 2021 through July, 2024, according to state data. The state aims to have heat pumps in 100,000 households by 2025, and 500,000, or approximately The vast majority of households in the state – Critics of Massachusetts' energy policies say the state is not considering that costs of climate initiatives and subsidies. Paul Craney, director of the conservative research group Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, said that many households can't afford to convert heating and cooling systems. 'I haven't heard Governor [Maura] Healey answer how much the net zero by 2050 will cost or who will pay for it,' he said. 'Lower and middle class folks are being told they have to buy heat pumps, but it hurts their paychecks the most.' Advertisement Installing a heat pump system to heat and cool an entire home Those who wish to take advantage of federal incentives would need to install heat pumps by December of this year after President Trump's One Big Beautiful bill that eliminated clean energy incentives granted during the Biden administration. The state Department of Energy Resources and climate advocacy groups call for even Yogev Toby can be reached at
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
This U.S. State Could Make Every Mile You Drive Cost More Than Just Gas
Car buyers from across the U.S. are continually dealing with higher prices, regardless of what financial bracket they fall into. Cheap used cars are hard to come by, and the average new car price has continued to increase - thanks, in part, to new tariff policies. But for residents of one state, the cost of car ownership may be far greater than the mere purchase price. CBS News reports that Massachusetts may soon track how much you drive and charge accordingly if the new Freedom To Move Act is passed, and it's causing quite the controversy. The bill is currently under discussion at the Massachusetts State House, where critics of the new law say it is about control and limiting transportation. Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance executive director Paul Craney says that the bill is trying to "put mechanisms in place to limit mobility," but Democrat Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem says otherwise: "This bill does not do that. This bill doesn't impose restrictions on how much Massachusetts residents can drive nor where they can drive. It doesn't include fines, penalties, taxes on personal vehicle use and it was never the intent of myself or any of the advocates to put a strain on a person's individual liberties." Instead, she says, the goal of the bill is to give more walking, cycling, or train options for those in areas that don't have them in an effort to get more cars and trucks off the road. Creem says that "it's not about telling people what to do," and that this "is not big brother watching you," but Craney argues that this is just the beginning. "We can all kind of figure out where this is going," he said. The bill has not yet reached a committee and is likely to undergo several edits, so it will still be years before anything therein is enacted. Related: New Tennessee Law Hits Bullies Where It Hurts: Their Driver's License A dollar figure per mile has not yet been floated, but whatever it is, the extra cost to residents needs to be justified. In 2021, Massachusetts passed a law requiring the state to reach zero emissions by 2050, and as Craney concedes, "it's not a goal. It's not wishful thinking. It is actually a law." To meet that zero-emissions target will require radical change, and advocates of the new bill say that this is just one way the state can get there. But the path will not be straight. Owners of businesses, especially smaller ones, may have to face higher transport costs that they simply cannot avoid, while others are concerned about their data being stored and what that might mean in terms of government overreach. As valid as those points are, the state needs to find a way to meet the requirements of its own law. Furthermore, it's worth pointing out that Massachusetts is home to the city where drivers are most likely to experience a collision, Boston, so perhaps quieter streets could have a positive impact on more than just air quality. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Auto Blog
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
This U.S. State Could Make Every Mile You Drive Cost More Than Just Gas
Freedom To Move Act Aims To Reduce Car Use Car buyers from across the U.S. are continually dealing with higher prices, regardless of what financial bracket they fall into. Cheap used cars are hard to come by, and the average new car price has continued to increase – thanks, in part, to new tariff policies. But for residents of one state, the cost of car ownership may be far greater than the mere purchase price. CBS News reports that Massachusetts may soon track how much you drive and charge accordingly if the new Freedom To Move Act is passed, and it's causing quite the controversy. Supporters And Critics Of The Bill Weigh In Source: Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images The bill is currently under discussion at the Massachusetts State House, where critics of the new law say it is about control and limiting transportation. Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance executive director Paul Craney says that the bill is trying to 'put mechanisms in place to limit mobility,' but Democrat Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem says otherwise: 'This bill does not do that. This bill doesn't impose restrictions on how much Massachusetts residents can drive nor where they can drive. It doesn't include fines, penalties, taxes on personal vehicle use and it was never the intent of myself or any of the advocates to put a strain on a person's individual liberties.' Instead, she says, the goal of the bill is to give more walking, cycling, or train options for those in areas that don't have them in an effort to get more cars and trucks off the road. Creem says that 'it's not about telling people what to do,' and that this 'is not big brother watching you,' but Craney argues that this is just the beginning. 'We can all kind of figure out where this is going,' he said. The bill has not yet reached a committee and is likely to undergo several edits, so it will still be years before anything therein is enacted. Why The Bill Was Proposed A dollar figure per mile has not yet been floated, but whatever it is, the extra cost to residents needs to be justified. In 2021, Massachusetts passed a law requiring the state to reach zero emissions by 2050, and as Craney concedes, 'it's not a goal. It's not wishful thinking. It is actually a law.' To meet that zero-emissions target will require radical change, and advocates of the new bill say that this is just one way the state can get there. But the path will not be straight. Owners of businesses, especially smaller ones, may have to face higher transport costs that they simply cannot avoid, while others are concerned about their data being stored and what that might mean in terms of government overreach. As valid as those points are, the state needs to find a way to meet the requirements of its own law. Furthermore, it's worth pointing out that Massachusetts is home to the city where drivers are most likely to experience a collision, Boston, so perhaps quieter streets could have a positive impact on more than just air quality. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
Axios
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Axios
The long, long road to taxing mileage in Mass.
Lawmakers are looking for the state to get closer to its climate-friendly emissions goal by targeting how many miles residents drive. Why it matters: Transportation accounts for 37% of all Massachusetts emissions, yet the state consistently trails behind its own goals to reduce greenhouse gases. Factoring miles driven into state policy — and possibly taxing them down the road — would be a sea change in the way Bay Staters move around the commonwealth. Driving the news: A bill in the Legislature would explore ways to reduce vehicle miles and meet climate objectives by urging residents to drive less and use transit more. Between the lines: The " Freedom to Move Act" just takes the first step toward establishing a policy governing vehicle miles traveled. It would establish an interagency council to develop strategies to reduce car dependency and enhance biking, walking infrastructure and public transit. The measure would be part of the state's mandate to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Eventually, the bill says the state "may facilitate reductions in vehicle miles traveled." Bill sponsors emphasize that the legislation only creates planning frameworks for reducing carbon emissions, not new prohibitions. Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem said the bill "doesn't impose restrictions on how much Massachusetts residents can drive," but focuses on expanding other options. The other side: Opponents are concerned about government overreach and economic impact. What they're saying: Tracking mileage would be "behavioral control disguised as environmental policy," Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance executive director Paul Craney told the Herald. Conservatives worry about potential restrictions on mobility for individuals and businesses if mileage becomes a factor. Rural legislators are worried such a policy would have unequal impacts on communities that require longer drives to work and services. Senate energy committee chair Michael Barrett expressed concern over a "subtle bias against rural Massachusetts" during a legislative hearing. The bottom line: It's early days yet, but if the bill advances, it would put mileage measurements in play on Beacon Hill for the first time.
CBS News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Mass. lawmaker says proposed bill would not restrict personal vehicle use. Why opponents are concerned.
There's been a debate brewing online about a transportation bill that's making its way through the Massachusetts State House. As written, the bill aims to align the state's transportation plans "with its mandates and goals for reducing emissions and vehicle miles traveled." It's that last part that has some opponents concerned that the state might track vehicle miles traveled. Back in 2021, the state passed a law that requires Massachusetts reach zero emissions by 2050. A steep hill to climb, admits many lawmakers on Beacon Hill, but the mandate is just that. A requirement, not a suggestion. "It's not a goal. It's not wishful thinking. It is actually a law," said executive director of Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, Paul Craney. "They have different metrics the state needs to meet or have to comply with." Craney was one of the loudest critics of the bill currently being discussed by state lawmakers. "Ultimately what this is about is control and limiting transportation and if you do need to transport yourself, doing public transportation," Craney said. "Specifically, vehicles. Cars and trucks. What they are trying to do is put mechanisms in place to limit mobility." Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem is a lead sponsor of the bill and was on the receiving end of a majority of the backlash that followed a committee meeting earlier this year. "It doesn't include fines, penalties, taxes" "This bill does not do that," Senator Creem said. "This bill does not impose restrictions on how much Massachusetts residents can drive nor where they can drive. It doesn't include fines, penalties, taxes on personal vehicle use and it was never the intent of myself or any of the advocates to put any strain on a person's individual liberties." Creem said the goal of the bill is to expand walking, biking, or train options for people in areas that don't have them, and said the language referring to "reducing vehicle miles" is a metric to keep the state in line with its zero emissions mandate. "It's really about options," Creem said. "It's not about telling people what to do. This is not big brother watching you. This is the little guy and the little woman having choices so it's the opposite of that." The bill has not reached a committee and is expected to undergo several rounds of edits.
