Clean Energy Program News

As the new home of RIPIRG's environmental work, Environment Rhode Island can be contacted regarding this news release.

Providence, RI - Not counting its solar resources, Rhode Island has the potential to generate 22 percent of the state's power from renewable sources of energy—enough to power 100,000 homes, according to a new report released today by RIPIRG, the Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group. RIPIRG released this information at one of the sites highlighted in the report, the South Providence Development Corporation's 17 Gordon Avenue site.

Generating Solutions: How Clean, Renewable Energy is Boosting Local Economies and Saving Consumers Money shows that a national standard increasing the use of renewable energy to 20 percent of the U.S. electricity supply by 2020 would benefit both the economy and environment.

"The good news is that renewable energy is coming online in Rhode Island. The bad news is that more than 98 percent of our energy still comes from fossil fuels and nuclear power," said Kate Canada, RIPIRG Advocate.

"One of Rhode Island and New England's most precious resources is its environment. Renewable sources of energy can help eliminate harm caused to the environment and can be an economic boost for the region as well," stated Senator Jack Reed. "This report highlights excellent examples of how renewable energy can be used. Rhode Islanders should be commended for developing models that can help protect the environment, boost the economy and reduce reliance of foreign oil," Reed continued.

Pointing to recent price spikes in the natural gas market, RIPIRG urged Congress and the Bush Administration to take steps to protect consumers from future price fluctuations and noted that increasing the percentage of electricity generated by renewable energy could save consumers money in the long run by reducing the demand for natural gas. "By diversifying the electricity mix to include renewable energy, consumers would have alternative choices when prices rise rather than being held captive by the whims of a volatile fossil fuel market," noted Canada.

The RIPIRG report cited examples of ways Rhode Islanders currently uses renewable energy, including South Providence Development Corporation.

"The South Providence Development Project demonstrates how renewable energy is not just about clean, safe energy. Renewable energy is also about creating jobs here in our local communities. Whether it's installing a solar system in South Providence, or building wind turbine blades in the East Bay, with renewable energy more of our energy dollars stay in Rhode Island to grow our economy," said Erich Stephens, Executive Director of People's Power & Light. People's Power & Light was on the design committee for the South Providence Development Corporation project.

About three years ago, the South Providence Development Corporation decided to buy and renovate an abandoned and deteriorating building within a neglected urban area on Gordon Avenue in South Providence, They are now fully renovating the space and are creating a business incubator with an environmental focus. The project includes many energy efficient and environmentally friendly features, including a 10 kW solar unit on the roof. The project, both during and after construction will generate quality jobs of various skill levels, especially for people in the South Providence area. The building should be ready for tenants in mid-2003.

"The amount of energy we waste as a nation is astounding. We cannot continue on this reckless course without jeopardizing the future security of America. In poorer communities the risks are even higher, given that we have less capital to begin with and can least afford to waste precious resources," stated Joseph E. Newsome, Executive Director of SPDC. "Our commitment at 17 Gordon Avenue is to effectively demonstrate - if only on a small scale - how to be more energy and environmentally sensitive in the renovation/reuse of older commercial structures," Newsome concluded.

The report also highlighted the "Brown is Green" program at Brown University and the Block Island School solar program. More information about these projects can be found on the RIPIRG web site.

"The U.S. House has passed an energy bill that will take us backward and the Senate is expected to vote on its energy bill in May. Fortunately, both our U.S. Representatives voted against an energy bill that is bad for the environment and bad for consumers," said Canada "Neither piece of legislation includes a national renewable energy standard that would boost production of electricity from clean renewable resources," she continued. Canada also mentioned the need to pass a state renewable energy standard.

RIPIRG made the following policy recommendations:

• Create state and national "renewable energy standards" (RES) to require an increase in the amount of electricity from renewable sources of energy, with the national standard set at 20 percent of power generation by 2020. Currently, RIPIRG is working to pass a bill in the General Assembly, sponsored by Rep. Paul Moura (D-Prov.) and Senator David Bates (R-Barrington) that would bring 20 percent renewable energy to Rhode Island by 2020

• Establish a national public benefits fund to provide funds for energy efficiency programs, investments in promising renewable energy technologies, and low-income assistance programs. This national public benefits fund would match and enhance the Systems Benefit Charge we already have in Rhode Island.

• Produce national a net metering standard that allow consumers who generate their own electricity from renewable technologies (e.g. a small wind turbine, a rooftop solar panel) to reduce their electric bill by getting full credit for any power generated. Here in Rhode Island, the Public Utilities Commission should act quickly on the mandate given to them by the General Assembly last year, and remove punitive rate tariffs which hinder greater use of customer installed renewable energy systems.

• Expand and extend the Federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) for builders of renewable energy for at least five years and include wind, solar, geothermal energy, and clean biomass-specifically excluding municipal solid waste incinerators.

"While many places in Rhode Island are leading the way and generating solutions, Congress is considering legislation that would make our energy problems worse. We urge our Congressional delegation and the General Assembly to continue their fight to put Rhode Island's technological know-how to work to replicate these successes in even more areas of Rhode Island and across the country," concluded Canada