NECEC Publications

Municipal Guide to Inclusive Climate Action and Equitable Procurement

This guide is for local governments to support them on their path to the just transition. It includes resources and links on topics including procurement, funding opportunities and strategies for integrating equity and justice into climate action.  

Read the guide here.

Collaborating with Municipalities A Climate Tech Startup's Guide to Successful Municipal Engagement

This guide explains how municipalities work and provides insights for startups looking to navigate public procurement and budgeting processes.

Read the guide here.

NECEC's 2022 Annual Report

In 2022 NECEC welcomed a new President in former Somerville, Mass. Mayor Joe Curtatone and moved to a new home at Greentown Labs. We championed vital, and in some cases historic, legislation across the Northeast, and saw our advocacy pay off as states made enormous investments in offshore wind infrastructure. We returned to live events with our signature Green Tie Gala in Boston and two major Strategic Partner Network summits in New York City. And we saw the climate economy reach whole new levels after the federal government passed the Inflation Reduction Action, putting $369 billion toward clean energy and climate tech initiatives.

Read the full report here.

NECEC's 2021 Annual Report

In 2021 NECEC championed policy and innovation as the northeast took a major leap forward on both clean energy and climate tech. We also announced a new President and expanded our mission to be "NECEC leads the just, equitable and rapid transition to a clean energy future and diverse climate economy." Despite all the challenges of the pandemic, the climate sector marked its arrival as a force for positive change and economic growth.

Read the full report here.

NECEC's 2020 Annual Report

Our 2020 Annual Report provides an overview of our work to advocate for policies and innovations that will help Northeast states reach their climate and clean energy goals, engage with environmental justice communities to make sure that everyone benefits from the clean energy economy, and work with our members and partners to deepen our impact in 2020. Read the full report here.

 

Accelerating to 80: Driving the Northeast’s Deep Decarbonization Targets

Highlights from the Northeast Region Emissions Reduction Summit co-hosted by NECEC, Mintz, and The Brattle Group. Stakeholders from government, industry, and advocacy groups brainstormed how the region can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 while overcoming significant technical, market-based, and political barriers. Read the full report here.

 

NECEC's 2019 Annual Report

NECEC’s 2019 Annual Report shines a light on NECEC and the Northeast's progress in 2019. We hope it will contribute to a deepening of collaboration with our organizations as we charge forward for the critical years ahead. Read the full report here.

 

NECEC's 2018 Annual Report

NECEC’s 2018 Annual Report is a review of major accomplishments achieved on behalf of our members and the Northeast clean energy industry and overall clean economy as we work to help clean energy companies start, scale, and succeed with our unique business, innovation, and policy leadership. Read the full report here.

 

Multi-User Microgrids: Obstacles to Development and Recommendations for Advancement

NECEC and the Boston University Institute for Sustainability, with support from E4TheFuture, published a new white paper on multi-user microgrid deployment, "Multi-User Microgrids: Obstacles to Development and Recommendations for Advancement."

While multi-user microgrids are emerging as a highly resilient approach to electricity service, few are actually in operation. The paper seeks to identify the barriers limiting multi-user microgrid development, as well as potential solutions to those barriers, focusing particularly on the northeast United States. Augmenting research of publicly available information by interviewing industry experts, the paper identifies seven key barriers to multi-user microgrid development and suggests beneficial actions and recommendations to overcome them. Read the full study here.

An Analysis of the Massachusetts RPS

NECEC, in partnership with Mass Energy Consumers Alliance, commissioned An Analysis of the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard to analyze the economic, energy and environmental impacts of increasing the RPS in New England’s two largest markets: Massachusetts and Connecticut. The report was produced by Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. and Sustainable Energy Advantage, LLC.

The report found an imbalance between the Commonwealth’s policies that affect renewable energy demand (like the RPS) and renewable energy supply (like the Energy Diversity Act procurements and the state’s solar program). A remedy to this supply and demand imbalance is necessary to maintain the current renewable energy fleet, to encourage new investment and production in a cost-effective and sustainable manner and to help the Commonwealth fulfill its obligations under the Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act, which sets a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050. Read the full study here.

Download the infographic on Strengthening the RPS here.

Partnering for the Clean Energy Economy

"Partnering for the Clean Energy Economy" examines how the Northeast is leading in areas of clean energy policy, market development and support for business and innovation growth. The white paper, produced by NECEC staff, looks at specific examples and approaches that are underway, as well as what more is needed to accelerate the region’s energy transition and to serve as a global example of how clean energy can be both a climate solution and a driver of economic prosperity. NECEC analyzed the three key economic development elements needed to ensure 2030 clean energy targets are achieved and that the region continues on its steady path towards a clean energy future:

  • The Clean Energy Policy Foundation
  • Clean Energy Market Development
  • Business Growth and Innovation  

Read the full paper here.

Leading the Next Era of Electricity Innovation

Drawing on NECEC’s work on the Massachusetts Grid Modernization Steering Committee and other grid modernization efforts in the Northeast, this paper examines the benefits of grid modernization and a 21st-century electricity system and the policy and regulatory framework needed to advance them.

Leading the Next Era of Electricity Innovation is an independent report by NECEC, supported by funding from the Energy Foundation. It was written by NECEC President Peter Rothstein, NECEC Executive Vice President Janet Gail Besser and Jesse Jenkins, a researcher, analyst, and writer with expertise in energy and climate change, electric power systems, energy policy, and innovation policy who is currently an MIT Ph.D. student. Read the full paper here.

New England's Cleantech Innovation Landscape

NECEC published the first region-wide study of the cleantech innovation cluster that identifies both early-stage cleantech companies as well as pieces of the region’s innovation infrastructure, which include government entities, university programs, non-profit institutions, and corporations that support cleantech technology research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.  NECEC also created an “Innovation Infrastructure Infographic” showcasing the region’s innovation resources. Read the entire study here.

Offshore Wind: Recommendations for a Coordinated Aggregated Power Procurement Mechanism for Offshore Wind Projects in New England

In 2012, NECEC convened an Offshore Wind Task Force, consisting of 24 members representing development, transmission, supply chain, government, academic institutions, and national and regional trade organizations. Together, the Task Force worked to identify barriers to the development of offshore wind and to provide recommendations for overcoming those barriers.

Offshore Wind: Recommendations for a Coordinated Aggregated Power Procurement Mechanism for Offshore Wind Projects in New England report includes recommendations for the effective development of a coordinated aggregated procurement process for large offshore wind projects in New England. Read the full report here.