Rhode Island energy costs are soaring. So are political tensions.

In declaring a state of emergency over rising energy prices, Gov. Dan McKee simultaneously declared war on the environmental groups, lawmakers and state regulators who he alleges are standing in the way of relief for struggling families.

Emily Koo, senior policy advocate and Rhode Island program director for Acadia Center, shared Chretien’s focus.

“An overreliance on volatile fossil gas and rising utility infrastructure spending misaligned with ratepayer interests are key systemic drivers of this affordability crisis,” Koo said in an emailed response Thursday. “We urge policymakers to embrace (and not undermine) long-lived affordability solutions, like energy efficiency and renewables, that offer durable savings year-after-year along with consumer and economic benefits, and can actually shrink the need for one-time settlements and emergency allocations going forward.”

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