Too much of our energy comes from dirty sources that harm our environment and drain energy dollars from our local economy. Rhode Island depends on a regional electric power system powered more than half...
Too much of our energy comes from dirty sources that harm our environment and drain energy dollars from our local economy. Rhode Island depends on a regional electric power system powered more than half by out-of-state fossil fuels like gas, while more than 97 percent of the power generated here in-state comes from gas burning alone. But by tapping the power of the sun and wind, we can repower our lives with clean energy that doesn’t pollute and never runs out, protecting our environment and creating good green jobs right here.
When it comes to renewable energy such as solar and wind, Rhode Island can move full-speed ahead if we expand our distributed generation (DG) program. Arguably our most important program for renewable energy, distributed generation allows renewable energy projects to be built in Rhode Island and connected to the grid, which means pollution-free electricity, improved system reliability, and economic activity for our state, including new jobs and tax revenue — payroll, income tax and property taxes for cities and towns where the renewable energy systems are installed.
Since becoming law in 2011, the DG program has been responsible for important renewable energy projects across the state, including the solar arrays at the East Providence landfill and at North Kingstown’s Quonset Business Park, for a total of 28 new projects for solar and two for wind power. The DG program’s success is evident in its oversubscription: With 70 applications for 30 projects, renewable energy developers are lining up out the door.
That’s why policymakers, environmental advocates, consumer groups and other stakeholders are working together to extend and expand DG to capture Rhode Island’s full potential. With the current program set to expire in 2014, Rhode Island faces a critical opportunity to build on our success with a renewed program that will bring many new projects to the Ocean State in the next few years. We cannot afford to leave these environmental and economic benefits on the table.
Recently, Environment Rhode Island convened a roundtable discussion in Newport that brought together renewable energy advocates, policymakers, and clean-energy business leaders to discuss the challenges, opportunities and importance of growing renewable energy in Rhode Island. The message was clear: Renewable energy is becoming cheaper and easier.
Nationally, renewables are on the rise as technology improves and Americans embrace the value of pollution-free energy. Wind power, for example, has more than quadrupled since 2007, while solar has increased more than tenfold. In Rhode Island, the DG program will work with other key policies like the new opportunity cities and towns have to implement Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing to give residents access to special loans for clean energy upgrades, reducing up-front costs for renewables and energy efficiency.
With ambitious and achievable commitments from Rhode Island leaders — and the right policies and programs to back them up — we can experience a takeoff in renewable energy production. The groundwork we’re laying now will ensure that Rhode Island has a robust renewable energy sector for future jobs and a vibrant local economy.
State Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Jamestown) sponsored the distributed generation bill in 2011 and is sponsoring legislation this year to extend and expand it. Channing Jones is the campaign director of Environment Rhode Island.