Wednesday, May 27, 2015

A step forward for renewable energy in Rhode Island

Senate passes Sosnowski legislation creating renewable energy task force in Energy Resources Office


STATE HOUSE – The Senate passed legislation introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) that would require the Office of Energy Resources to assemble a task force to promote the development of markets for alternative renewable home heating and transportation fuel, such as clean burning biodiesel fuels. The measure, which now heads to the House of Representatives, passed the Senate 35 to 0.

The legislation (2015 S-0410) would also assemble a task force to develop an energy efficiency program for home heating oil and propane. The reports of these task forces would be due Jan. 31, 2016. The alternative renewable fuel task force would have up to $50,000 from the Renewable Energy Fund to hire consultants.



“This is good for the environment,” said Senator Sosnowski. “Clean burning biofuels reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will also increase our energy security, because biofuels are a domestically produced sustainable fuel source. And it’s good for the economy because producing biofuels creates jobs.”

The energy efficiency task force would be provided with up to $75,000 from the energy efficiency fund to hire consultants.

“Efficiency programs in Rhode Island have a proven track record for reducing energy costs,” said Senator Sosnowski. “Rhode Island leads the nation in electricity efficiency, yet we don’t have an efficiency program for home heating fuels, despite the fact that about 42 percent of Rhode Island homes heat with oil.”


The national ranking for Energy Efficiency Policies by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy placed Rhode Island third in the nation for energy efficiency. Since 2008, $558 million invested in electric efficiency has resulted in $1.99 billion in consumer benefits, 25,000 job-years of employment created, and $2.35 billion added to the Rhode Island gross state product.