In 2022, Rhode Island passed a law to change our renewable energy standard "to achieve the goal that one hundred percent of Rhode Island's electricity demand is from renewable energy by 2033 and each year thereafter." The climate change clock continues to tick down. We have 10 years to stop distributing electricity generated from fossil fuels. All of the New England states except New Hampshire have similar targets. 

To stop emitting CO2 we have four significant sources: Solar, hydro, nuclear, and offshore wind. Many suggest we need them all.

Some question if more nuclear development could be an alternative to offshore wind turbines. In the US, there are only two large nuclear plants in construction or getting close to adding to the grid. Construction for both started in 2009 at one Georgia site. Planning and approval started in 2006.

With no large nuclear power plants in planning, there isn't enough time to get any online to meet the 2033 100 percent carbon free goal. Also, which town in or near New England will host one? Small Modular Reactors are in development and have the promise of completing the first US prototype in 2030. If this design and technology is proven safe and cost effective, it still cannot be in time for the 2033 RI goal. Further, a state and town must host it.

After more than 50 years of fusion experiments, the first test result that produced more energy than it took to start the reaction occurred. Some suggest we might wait for it when commercialization is not going to happen in 10 but hopefully in 20 to 30 years.

Some may ask what about whether expanded solar, hydro, or biomass would be enough. A research study commissioned by Rhode Island in 2020 by the Brattle group showed not be enough by 2033 without offshore wind.

Rhode Island has two options to meet the 2033 goal:

1) We could say no to Rhode Island offshore wind and have our rate payers pay a higher price premium to buy carbon free electricity from other non-Rhode Island project sources or,

2) We could recognize that Rhode Island is fortunate to have this energy producing source right off our coast. Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire are not so fortunate. New York and Massachusetts each has an approved project and their turbine construction will start in a month. If Rhode Island does not step up, other states will surely take our opportunity. So why shouldn't Rhode Island produce a large part of our current and future electricity needs while our state and benefits from lower electricity lower costs while also gaining many temporary and permanent jobs here? Future electricity supply to charge EVs and power heat pumps is coming. Let's act to be at the front.

I encourage Rhode Islanders to support the Revolution Wind project that started in 2019 and the second and larger and more offshore wind project proposal that Rhode Island received in March 2023. New Englanders should also support all renewable offshore projects as neighbors. We breathe the same air and swim in essentially in the same warming waters.

Tom Clemow

Little Compton