Statement on Rhode Island 30-day Public Comment Period for Offshore Wind RFP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 7, 2022
Contact:
Jennifer Delony, New England for Offshore Wind
jdelony@ne4osw.org, 603-320-7043
Statement on Rhode Island 30-day Public Comment Period for Offshore Wind RFP
BOSTON – September 7, 2022 – Today, Gov. Dan McKee announced the opening of a 30-day comment period for a draft offshore wind procurement request for proposals. Rhode Island Energy will issue the procurement by Oct. 15.
Larry Chretien, Executive Director at Green Energy Consumers Alliance, a New England for Offshore Wind partner, said:
“Rhode Island’s commitment to procuring more offshore wind power makes sense in so many ways. It’s an essential step in meeting the state’s obligations under the Act on Climate. Electricity prices are rising all over the world because of skyrocketing natural gas prices. The offshore wind project that results from this procurement will be great for ratepayers. And it will create good, well-paying jobs for Rhode Islanders. When it comes online, we will be saying we wished it came on sooner.”
Background
In July, Rhode Island passed the Affordable Clean Energy Security Act. The bill was passed alongside the state’s landmark 100% legislation requiring 100% of RI electricity needs be met with renewable energy by 2033. The Affordable Clean Energy Security Act requires the electric utility to issue a solicitation for an offshore wind procurement of 600-1,000 megawatts (MW) by October of 2022 and requires a 30-day public comment period on the draft request for proposals (RFP), which were the top two priorities of the RI coalition. It also decreases payments to the utilities to 1% and includes language for responsible development (environmental and fisheries mitigation plans), labor standards, economic inclusion, and transmission.
NE4OSW RI coalition members and allies were instrumental in ensuring this bill made it over the finish line and supported inclusion of public engagement on draft RFPs.
This bill will be crucial in helping RI meet its 100% renewable energy goals, bringing the state’s total offshore wind procurements up to 1,030-1,430 MW – enough to power over 500,000 homes-and setting a strong precedent for other New England states.
About New England for Offshore Wind
New England for Offshore Wind is a broad-based coalition of businesses and associations, environmental and justice organizations, academic institutions, and labor unions committed to combatting climate change by increasing the supply of clean energy to our regional grid through more procurements of responsibly developed offshore wind. We believe that responsibly developed offshore wind is the single biggest lever we can pull to address the climate crisis while also strengthening our regional economy, protecting ratepayers, creating high quality jobs and improving public health by reducing pollution.