RI To Reach All-Renewable Electricity By 2030 Under Proposed Law

PROVIDENCE, RI — A new bill from Rhode Island's Senate president would speed up the state's transition to renewable sources of electricity. The bill announcement comes just one day after the Senate voted in favor of a bill that would step up the state's carbon reduction effort, reaching net-zero by 2050.

The bill calls for the state to achieve all-renewable sources of electricity sold in the state by 2030, codifying a similar executive order signed by then-Gov. Gina Raimondo last January.

“Our coastal state is already seeing the impacts of climate change," Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said. "It is imperative that, as a state, nation, and global community, we transition to renewable energy now, not later."

Ruggerio went on to say that the Senate "has long been committed to renewable energy."

Under the current schedule, Rhode Island increases the amount of renewably-sourced electricity by 1.5 percent every year through 2035. The new bill would change that schedule to a 4 percent increase in 2022, 9.5 percent annually from 2023 to 2029 and 10.5 percent in 2030 to reach the ambitious goal.

"Our Ocean State has been a leader in renewable energy innovation, including as home to the nation’s first offshore wind farm," Ruggerio continued. "Just as Samuel Slater harnessed the power of the Blackstone River to launch the American Industrial Revolution, Rhode Island can once again use renewable power to lead the way as we address the urgent climate change crisis."