By Michael Anderson |
Across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, thousands of families live in older apartment buildings that maintain affordable rents not because of subsidies, but because of age, condition, or location. This is naturally occurring affordable housing, or NOAH, the quiet backbone of affordability in many cities.When people think about affordable housing, they often picture properties supported by…
By Yiran He |
Energy efficiency is an affordability strategy, especially as energy prices are expected to be high this winter, particularly in New England, which has a large proportion of delivered fuels customers. It also remains a least cost resource for utilities and consumers when compared to building expensive new power plants. Since 2012, every dollar invested in efficiency in New Hampshire has produced…
By Maggie Molina |
As federal efforts threaten to weaken or dismantle common-sense energy efficiency programs, state and local leadership is more important than ever. Rising energy demand and spiking utility bills are pushing policymakers to prioritize strategies that provide both immediate and long-term relief. Energy efficiency, demand flexibility, and virtual power plants remain the most cost-effective tools…
By David Smedick |
States in the Northeast are all-in on heat pumps. Sales of these high-performance HVAC systems that provide year-round comfort increased nearly 400% between 2013 – 2021 thanks to technology improvements, financial incentives, and policy support. Consumers are increasingly turning to heat pumps for year-round comfort and lower energy costs, and numerous states in the region now aim for heat pumps…
By Tasneem Osman |
Massachusetts has emerged as a national leader in high-performance residential construction. The Commonwealth uses a unique three-tiered energy code framework that allows communities to advance building performance significantly beyond the minimum state standard. For residential projects, the technical requirements of the Stretch and Specialized code are rigorous. This technical complexity…
By Chase Macpherson |
Last month, NEEP kicked off its annual Summit in Baltimore, MD against a backdrop of growing concerns around energy affordability, load growth, and pressures on energy efficiency program funding. One of the first sessions, “Big Loads, Big Opportunities,” wove all three themes together in a discussion of how energy efficiency, demand flexibility, and virtual power plants can enable new large load…
By Dragana Thibault |
NEEP Summit 2026 brought together state energy offices, utilities, regulators, advocates, and industry leaders to explore a wide range of topics shaping the region's energy future. Across sessions, participants discussed topics such as energy affordability, virtual power plants, workforce development, and strategies for meeting growing electricity demand while also putting people first. …
By Lauren Ross |
Energy affordability was a major theme at this year’s NEEP Summit 2026 | The Power of Us. Across the region, rising energy bills are straining household budgets, and policymakers are being asked to deliver solutions that address both immediate needs and long-term structural challenges. Energy efficiency programs, long valued for cost effective savings, play a critical role in advancing equity,…
By Mary MacPherson |
Energy affordability is a priority for states across the country – and Maryland is no exception. Last month, Maryland legislators passed the Utility RELIEF Act, a wide-ranging law that reforms several policy areas, including utility ratemaking, data center tariffs, solar permitting, energy efficiency, and utility bill assistance. State leaders describe the law as a way to help reduce…
By Maggie Molina |
Across the Northeast and Mid‑Atlantic, the energy landscape is changing in ways that demand collective attention: Rising energy costs are putting pressure on households and businesses; rapid load growth from data centers is testing planning assumptions; and climate impacts are compounding operational stress. Demand‑side resources, including energy efficiency, demand flexibility, and efficient…
