R.I. lawmakers support renewable energy goal, despite governor’s pushback

PROVIDENCE — Environmental and labor groups on Monday hailed the House Finance Committee budget for refusing to push back renewable energy goals or to cap energy efficiency programs.

In his State of the State speech in January, Governor Daniel J. McKee outlined an “Affordability for All agenda” that called for lowering energy costs by $1 billion over five years in part by rolling back renewable energy targets and energy efficiency programs. He noted Rhode Island has the nation’s fourth-highest residential electric rates and that the Trump administration has gutted clean energy programs.

Emily Koo, senior policy advocate and Rhode Island program director at the Acadia Center, said environmental groups began this legislative session on the defensive because of McKee’s proposals. The House Finance budget “is much better,” she said. “I would like to frame it as a win.”

Koo said House leaders demonstrated a “commitment to clean and renewable energy” and the importance of maintaining the 2033 deadline. “It’s really important that our leadership is not turning our back on the climate and energy future we have been building for a decade,” she said.

Also, the Acadia Center is “very pleased” that the House Finance Committee rejected McKee’s plan to cap energy efficiency programs at $75 million, Koo said. that would have been 24 percent below the current year’s total and 48 percent below the average for the last five years, she said.

“These programs are incredibly cost effective,” Koo said. “It is a tool for Rhode Islanders to save money right away by participating in programs. And it reduces demand on the system, saving costs for all Rhode Islanders because it reduces supply and strain on the system.”

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