Senate President Wants R-I Energy Independent By 2030

The Rhode Island Senate President is pushing a measure that would make the state completely powered by renewable energy by 2030.

Specifically - Dominick Ruggerio’s bill would require all electricity that is generated in Rhode Island to be done so with renewable sources. A similar measure was passed last year by the Rhode Island House.

“Here in the Ocean State, we know that action to address the climate crisis cannot wait. Rhode Islanders are already feeling the effects of climate change, and the risks facing our communities will grow increasingly dire in the years ahead,” President Ruggerio said. “This legislation sets out a bold but achievable goal and builds on the historic progress we made in 2021 through the Act on Climate. It will keep Rhode Island, home to the nation’s first offshore wind farm, on the forefront of renewable energy innovation. And it will help us harness the power of clean energy as a driver of economic growth and opportunity.”

Current state law requires annual 1.5 percentage point increases in the amount of electricity required to be generated from renewable sources through 2035. President Ruggerio’s legislation would accelerate those increases, and go further, to achieve a 100 percent Renewable Energy Standard in 2030. The legislation increases the rate of increase as follows:

4 percent increase in 2022,

5 percent increase in 2023,

6 percent increase in 2024,

11 percent increase in 2025, 2026, and 2027, and

11.5 percent increase in 2028, 2029, and 2030.

The Senate Commerce Committee will hold hearings on the measure.

(Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)