{"id":2689,"date":"2026-02-13T10:45:59","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T15:45:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.350.org\/rhodeisland\/?p=2689"},"modified":"2026-03-03T11:22:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:22:41","slug":"clean-energy-is-affordable-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.350.org\/rhodeisland\/clean-energy-is-affordable-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"Clean Energy is Affordable Energy"},"content":{"rendered":"

On January 15th<\/a>, Governor McKee released his budget proposal backing away from several of the state\u2019s core clean energy commitments. This budget is an attempt to pin the blame of high energy bills on renewables and clean energy, claiming rollbacks are necessary for relief. But gutting the 100% Renewable Energy Standard (RES) and long-term energy cost-reduction strategies is a short-sighted election ploy, and ignores foundational understandings of why these programs are in place.<\/p>\n\"\"\n

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These proposed changes to the budget would force us to remain dependent on burning imported fossil fuels\u2014disincentivizing new clean energy sources to be built, devastating the local solar industry, and discouraging energy efficiency programs that save ratepayers millions of dollars. While his budget claims that these decisions are essential to make utility costs affordable, over this past week voices from labor, climate, the legislature and more have spoken up to dispel these claims and assert that it’s clean energy that is affordable, not fossil fuels.<\/p>\n

Rhode Island\u2019s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) is foundational to meeting our Act on Climate targets and stabilizing long-term energy prices. In 2024, natural gas fueled 87% of Rhode Island\u2019s in-state electricity generation \u2014 the highest share of any state \u2014 and we import 100% of it. Supply and distribution costs make up more than 75% of winter electric bills but while pipeline capacity grows and gas use shrinks, those costs are still going up. But we absolutely control whether we remain dependent on a single imported fuel source or diversify our energy supply with homegrown renewables. Cutting the program that makes up only 3.5% of the bill to build up those renewables, while ignoring the elephant in the room\u2014supply and distribution costs\u2014shows McKee is putting the economic interests of RI Energy over the people of Rhode Island and our future.<\/p>\n\"\" \"\"\n

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The Renewable Energy Standard (RES) is the foundation of Rhode Island\u2019s climate strategy. Electrification of cars and heating only works as a decarbonization strategy if our grid is powered by renewables! Delaying the RES to 2050 weakens that transition and falls directly into the fossil fuel industry\u2019s playbook: push timelines further out and slow the shift to clean energy. Undermining energy efficiency at a time when our appetite for electricity is growing makes even less sense. The cheapest energy is the energy you don\u2019t use. These programs have saved ratepayers millions of dollars and reduce system-wide energy demand \u2014 lowering bills while avoiding expensive new infrastructure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more:<\/strong><\/p>\n