Massachusetts is near the very top for the cost of electricity. This means economic benefits of owning and driving an EV are markedly degraded. This results in more internal combustion engine vehicles and more pollution. With the high cost of electricity, the benefits of switching to heat pumps is also economically degraded. So as compared to the vast majority of other states the economic benefits of driving an EV or switching to heat pumps is much worse in this state than the vast majority of other states for both things, again resulting in less conversion to those systems and more pollution.
Finally, for those who own and have installed solar panels on their homes the economic benefits have been less as the payment system (look at SREC) has evolved. The amount you get for selling electricity to the grid when adjusted for inflation is less. Again, [it’s] a disincentive.
The conversion away from oil/gas should be driven by market forces alone and with current levels of technology can occur in the absence of any artificial interventions. No funds for increasing HERS values. [There is] no need for subsidies for home solar nor even geothermal. The key is lowering the price of electricity not the complex network of subsidies and regulations currently in place. This in conjunction with raising the selling price of home generated electricity would be strong incentives.
Utilities are public/private entities. At present, one wonders if they are top heavy in administrative salaries and have not streamlined all functions to be efficient. One wonders why our electricity costs are so high in comparison to other states. A close examination of how we can lower electricity costs would be more equitable to our citizens than the current situation -more in keeping with our tradition of using market forces to meet our goals. But [it] also would more quickly make the conversion occur. [It makes] more economic sense to own an EV, have a well-insulated house, use heat pumps and geothermal. People’s wallets drive their decisions. The high cost of electricity here is the obstacle.
I have an EV, geothermal for the house, heat pumps in the basement, and solar on the roof. I did this for economic reasons. It is the most compelling reason to do so.
– Lee I. Corwin