Posted on July 13, 2022
RHODE ISLAND — Gov. Dan McKee on Wednesday signed a bill into law requiring Rhode Island to expand its off shore wind energy usage.
The new law requires a market-competitive procurement for between 600 and 1,000 mega-watts of newly-developed offshore wind capacity. The state’s primary utility company, Rhode Island Energy, must issue the procurement no later than Oct. 15.
“Offshore wind is one of our state’s most abundant natural resources,” McKee said in a statement. “Adding offshore wind clean energy capacity is essential for meeting our new 100 percent renewable energy by 2033 goal and our Act on Climate emissions reductions target. It will not only be beneficial for the environment, but also create hundreds of jobs as we position Rhode Island as an economic hub of this growing offshore wind industry on the Atlantic Coast.”
State officials said the additional wind power has the potential to meet at least 30 percent of Rhode Island’s estimated 2030 electricity demand. This electricity from the project has the potential to power about 340,000 homes each year. When added to the 30-mega-watt Block Island Wind farm and the planned 400-mega-watt Revolution Wind project, about half of the state’s project energy needs will be powered by offshore wind, officials said.
