Rhode Island jump ahead in the race to 100% renewable energy last week when Governor Dan McKee signed a bill that would commit the state to meet the target by 2033, the state’s most aggressive target yet. Only Oregon comes close, and it’s moving forward for 2040.
In some ways, Rhode Island has it easy. With a population of just over 1 million people, it’s smaller than many metro areas, so switching to renewable energy isn’t the huge undertaking it would be in California or Texas.
But on the other hand, renewables often require a lot of space, and the state’s 1 million inhabitants are densely packed – Rhode Island is the second most populous state in the country.
While Rhode Island may not have space, it has plenty of open water, blessed with strong and steady winds, making it an ideal spot for offshore wind. Therefore, the state’s rapid move to renewable energy is as much about tackling climate change as it is about securing the state’s economic future.
