Cutting energy efficiency and renewables is not the answer to R.I.’s rising energy costs

Energy efficiency not only cuts carbon pollution, it also improves the comfort of our homes. And by reducing how much energy we use, energy efficiency investments have saved us all money.

Building out more renewable energy in the state and region slowly but surely divorces our bill from polluting, price-volatile fossil gas, more commonly called natural gas.

Right now, New England generates roughly 50 percent of its electricity from gas. That’s gas we must purchase from a global market, which means prices can fluctuate wildly because of events outside of our control (like Russia’s war on Ukraine). Gas companies want you to think that the solution to these cost issues is to commit billions of our hard-earned dollars into their businesses — because they profit from fracking gas and building pipelines to then ship it into our region.

Rhode Island doesn’t need more gas. What we do need are renewable alternatives that provide more predictable and stable pricing and to build out our clean energy economy, including battery storage for long-term reliability.

As energy costs rise, Rhode Islanders deserve to have confidence that every dollar spent on the energy system is to our benefit. The good news is, there are proposed laws that can help. These bills would help make the state’s energy system work for its customers by reigning in utility overspending, deploying modern and efficient technology to get the most out of our existing grid, and making sure community members are involved in making decisions.

H5818 and S593 would restrict Rhode Island Energy from using customer dollars on lobbying expenses and shareholder benefits, and cap how much Rhode Island Energy can add to our bills each year for infrastructure costs. H5573 and S862 would give our energy siting board the ability to scrutinize transmission spending and support modern, low-cost technologies that can move more energy for every dollar we pay.

Finally, H5815 and S378 would provide resources for Rhode Island communities to directly participate and stand up for themselves when faced with proposed utility or other energy-related projects. We all deserve the ability to speak up and be heard when a new, polluting propane terminal or gas power plant is built in our neighborhood.

Unfortunately, there isn’t one silver bullet solution to cutting our energy bills. We need to make smart, strategic decisions that help Rhode Islanders cut energy demand and upgrade us to price-stable clean energy that is available right here in our state and region. But gas companies don’t want that future for us. They are driven by their profits and not our ability to pay the bills. That’s why they are pushing so hard to convince us that chopping programs like energy efficiency — which have provided significant cost savings and other benefits to Rhode Islanders — and relying even more on volatile out-of-state energy sources is the answer.

Before brashly believing their disinformation, let us take a more thoughtful approach. One that’s driven by what our families and businesses want — not one that parrots the talking points of fossil fuel companies and utilities driven by their bottom line.

Rhode Islanders have the right to efficient, modern energy systems that cut bills and pollution — and we won’t give up on strategies that help make an affordable, sustainable energy future a reality.

Emily Koo is senior policy advocate and Rhode Island Program Director at Acadia Center and Jamie Rhodes is a senior attorney and the Director of Clean Buildings for the Conservation Law Foundation.

To read the article from the Boston Globe, click here.