Jamestown Rep. Ruggiero Sponsors 100-Percent Clean Energy Bill

JAMESTOWN, RI — Rep. Deborah Ruggiero is sponsoring legislation to require that 100 percent of Rhode Island’s electricity sold at retail comes from renewable sources by 2030.

“As the Ocean State, Rhode Island must make a bold commitment to clean energy to slow the effects of global warming and the rising sea levels that are threatening our property, infrastructure, and safety," Ruggiero said in a media release.

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Back in 2004, the state ordered that power entities must buy a percentage of their retail electricity from renewable sources. Compliance is met by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates, or RECs, through a regional program. The current legislation (2021-H 5762) would change the state’s Renewable Energy Standard, the law that states how much of the state’s electricity must come from renewable sources, and set a more aggressive target.

“This is important because if a developer is going to build a renewable energy project he or she wants to know there is a market for National Grid to buy the RECs," said Ruggiero, a Democrat who represents Jamestown and Middletown. "The Renewable Energy Standard creates jobs for our residents and continues to help drive down the cost of renewables, which has fallen drastically in the last decade.”

Ruggiero sponsored the bill that last updated the Renewable Energy Standard in 2016.

“With planning and commitments like a stronger Renewable Energy Standard, we can build a thriving green economy that defends against climate change while putting Rhode Islanders to work,” Ruggiero said. "Rhode Island – home to the nation’s first commercial wind farm and rapidly expanding solar capabilities – is leading the charge into the green energy frontier.”

The legislation was introduced Feb. 24 and heard before the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee on March 11. It is co-sponsored by Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston), Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston), Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown), Rep. Rebecca Kislak (D-Dist. 4, Providence) and Rep. Evan P. Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick).