Rhode Island
Rhode Island passed the 2021 Act on Climate law to establish a target of net-zero emissions by 2050, and in 2022 set the most ambitious renewable energy target requiring 100% renewable energy by 2033.
Legislative Profile
Governor: Daniel McKee (D)
House: Democratic supermajority
Senate: Democratic supermajority
U.S. Climate Alliance Member
Key Resources
Rhode Island State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
Rhode Island Climate Change Portal – State of Rhode Island
Emissions Reduction Targets
By 2030:
45%
By 2040:
80%
By 2050:
Net-zero
All targets relative to 1990 levels
2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)
- Commercial
- Electric
- Residential
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)
Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.
Climate Governance & Equity
Climate Governance
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
45% by 2030 | 80% by 2040 | Net-zero by 2050 Relative to 1990 levels
Mandate Source
Mandatory – Chapter 42-6.2 – 2021 Act on Climate (2021)
Climate Action Plan
Climate Bureaucracy
Interagency Commissions/Task Forces
Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4)
Non-Governmental Advisory Bodies
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Green Bank
Lead by Example
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 1 point**
Public Fleet ZEV Requirements
Executive Order 23-06 (2023) – 25% of the light-duty state fleet will be ZEVs by 2030
Equity
Environmental Justice Community Designation
Mandate Source
RIDEM Environmental Justice Policy (2023)
Definition
“Environmental Justice Focus Areas” are defined as census tracts where median household income is less than 65% of statewide median income; minority populations are at least 40% of the population; at least 25% of households lack English proficiency; or minority populations are at least 25% of the population and the municipality’s median household income does not exceed 150% of statewide median income.
Include race? Yes | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? No
State EJ Mapping Tools
EJ Community Benefit Requirement
EJ Bureaucracy
**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.
Adaptation & Resilience
Electricity
Renewables and Energy Storage
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out
SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*
Net Metering
SPOT Components – 8 out of 11*
Energy Storage Standard
SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*
Shared Renewables
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Grid and Utility Reform
Clean Energy Plan
The Road to 100% Renewable Electricity by 2030 in Rhode Island (2020)
Mandate Source
Executive Order 20-01 (2020)
Grid Modernization Plan
The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.
50-state Ranking – 19th
Interconnection Standards
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Utility Green Power Option
SPOT Components – 1 out of 6*
New Utility Business Model Proceeding
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings & Efficiency
Building Energy Codes
Residential Codes
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2018 IECC
Commercial Codes
SPOT Components – 4 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2018 IECC
Stretch or Reach Codes
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Efficiency Programs and Incentives
Weatherization Programs
SPOT Components – 2 out of 4*
Energy Auditing Programs
Retrocommissioning Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
SPOT Components – 5 out of 10*
Energy Savings Performance Contracting
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Standards and Market Mechanisms
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Building Performance Standard (BPS)
Appliance Performance Standard (APS)
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings Data Disclosure
Transportation
Vehicle Standards and Incentives
Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
EV Targets and Sales Requirements
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards
Electric Vehicle Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Charging Infrastructure Incentives
SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
State Planning and Investment
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Decarbonization Plan
EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans
EV Transit Bus Deployment
The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 6 points
Bicycle Friendly State
The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.
50-state Ranking – 21st
Agriculture
Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Governance
Financial Incentives
Technical Assistance and Education Programs
Food Waste Bans and Targets
Food Waste Ban – Required for businesses and institutions that generate more than 2 tons of food waste per week