Despite ambitious climate goals, New England remains heavily dependent on fuel oil for heating, particularly during harsh winters. This reliance persists even as states in the region, including Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, set bold renewable energy and emission-reduction targets.
Many of these states have taken legal action against major oil and gas companies, holding them accountable for climate change. However, they continue to use fuel oil, which is about 30% more polluting than natural gas when burned.
This contradiction in energy policy is unlikely to change soon, according to Ariel Cohen, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and Founding Principal of International Market Analysis. Cohen suggests that New England could benefit from a more practical approach to energy, focusing on realistic solutions rather than simply signaling environmental virtue.
One significant obstacle is the region’s lack of natural gas infrastructure. New England struggles to build sufficient pipelines to bring gas from the Marcellus shale and Appalachia, making it difficult to replace oil with cleaner alternatives. Additionally, many states in the northeast have restrictions on new nuclear power plants, a potential source of low-carbon electricity.
As a result, New England faces challenges in achieving its clean energy goals. In terms of electricity generation, half of the region’s power comes from natural gas, 20% from nuclear, and only 3% each from solar and wind. While the New England coast offers a prime location for offshore wind, the region has few operational projects, with more in development facing rising costs and abandoned plans by oil supermajors.
Winter also complicates renewable energy efforts. Solar power is limited during the winter months, and strong winter winds can force wind turbines to shut down to protect equipment. This leaves fuel oil as a crucial backup during cold snaps when natural gas supply is constrained.
Fuel oil plays a significant role in both electricity generation and home heating in New England. The region has the highest share of households in the U.S. using fuel oil for home heating, with New Hampshire leading at 40%. Overall, about 82% of U.S. homes using fuel oil are in the Northeast. In Massachusetts, fuel oil is the second-most common heating source, following natural gas.
Currently, about 39% of New England households use utility gas for heating, while 30.5% rely on fuel oil. The limited natural gas infrastructure in states like Maine, Vermont, and parts of New Hampshire means that fuel oil remains essential for heating in many homes.
Despite its reliance on fuel oil, New England’s states have set ambitious climate targets. Vermont aims to achieve 90% renewable energy by 2050, while Massachusetts has a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal by the same year. However, the ongoing use of fuel oil for heating and as a backup during extreme weather threatens to undermine these clean energy objectives.
In short, while New England has made significant commitments to clean energy, the region’s ongoing dependence on fuel oil highlights the challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon future.
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