Despite securing additional natural gas supplies and electricity imports from neighboring states (and Canada), oil remains a major source of power generation in New England right now! Wind and solar played a minuscule role during this period. Roughly half of what counts as “renewable” generation comes from wood, biomass, and refuse (such as trash-to-energy facilities), rather than wind or solar. New England states have poured about $5 billion into subsidies and tax breaks for solar and wind projects. Yesterday morning, less than 2% of total electricity generation in New England came from solar and wind!
In 2025 ~43% of electricity in New England was from burning oil. Another ~5% from burning, wood, biomass and trash. Because state governments will not allow drilling in New York or natural gas pipelines from Appalachia (Marcellus & Utica Shales), New England has to import LNG, which is 3X to 5X more expensive than HH natural gas prices.
This highlights the ongoing challenges in the region’s energy mix, especially during cold snaps when demand spikes and variable renewables contribute little, forcing reliance on backup fossil fuels like oil—even as natural gas remains the dominant overall source in typical conditions.
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Voters in Blue States need to wake up and demand more logical energy policies. By the way, burning wood, biomass and trash to generate electricity creates much more air pollution than natural gas fired power plants. Buring heating oil to heat your home in the winter is also much more polluting.
Blue States need better energy policy
Blue States need better energy policy
Dan Steffens
Energy Prospectus Group
Energy Prospectus Group