Gov. McKee signs executive order aiming to reduce energy costs, sparks environmental debate
Earlier this month, Gov. Dan McKee signed an executive order directing a review of the state’s net metering program, which requires utilities to credit homeowners and businesses for the excess renewable energy they produce.
The program ensures that solar projects “can sell excess electricity back to the grid for a relatively high rate,” said Ben Butterworth, director of climate, energy and equity analysis at Acadia Center, a climate-focused non-profit.
McKee’s proposed change would “essentially destroy” the solar energy industry in the Ocean State, said Butterworth.
“It’s a serious concern,” he added. If it is no longer financially feasible to produce solar energy in Rhode Island, the industry would “essentially just pull out of the state.”
Several green-energy advocacy groups have noted concerns with McKee’s changes to renewable energy policy.
Butterworth said the proposed $75 million cap on energy efficiency investment “leaves a lot of benefits on the table that could be achieved if you increase the spending of the program.”
“The cheapest megawatt of electricity you can buy is the one that you don’t buy,” Butterworth said. “Energy efficiency helps to lower the overall electric system costs by reducing demand.”
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