July 19, 2023 (PROVIDENCE, RI) – Rhode Island Energy has announced that it will not be moving forward with an offshore wind project proposed by Eversource and Orsted, which would have added 600 to 1000 megawatts of clean energy to the state’s electric grid. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement in response.
“The climate crisis is already affecting communities here in Rhode Island,” said CLF staff attorney James Crowley. “We need new offshore wind resources to provide clean, renewable energy, and it’s extremely disappointing that the state’s latest procurement process has not resulted in any new development. Ramping up the development of clean energy is a major response to the crisis we’re facing, and the state needs to get moving.”
Rhode Island’s Act on Climate law mandates that the state reach net-zero polluting emissions by 2050. State law also requires 100% of the electricity sold in Rhode Island to be renewable by 2033. The state will need to develop offshore wind resources to reach those goals.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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