Report: When It Comes to Wind Energy Production Growth, Ocean State Ranks First

We're Number One!

By Bonnie Phillips / ecoRI News staff

Rhode Island ranks first in the nation for growth in percent increase in wind energy production since 2014, according to a report released Wednesday by the Environment America Research & Policy Center.

The state ranks second in percent increase in electric vehicle (EV) registration, and 17th in the nation for growth in percent increase in solar energy production, according to the online Renewables on the Rise 2024 dashboard, which charts the growth of six key energy technologies by state over the past decade: solar power, wind power, battery storage, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and electric vehicle charging stations. 

“It’s amazing the difference that a decade can make,” said Rex Wilmouth, Rhode Island director of the nationwide nonprofit. “We’ve made fantastic progress in Rhode Island. Now we have to keep up the momentum in order to meet our goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2033.”

According to Environment America, Rhode Island has seen a 4,975% increase (50-fold) in the amount of electricity it gets from the sun since 2014; a 1,664% increase (more than 17-fold) in wind power production since 2014; and as of 2023 generates enough wind and solar power to meet 17% of its electricity demand.

When it comes to percent increase in battery storage capacity, however, Rhode Island ranks 33rd, according to the dashboard.

The state is on the hook to meet specific climate goals laid out in the 2021 Act on Climate law, which requires decreasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions reaching net zero by 2050. The state met the first mandate, a 10% reduction from a 1990 baseline, by 2020. Next is a 45% reduction by 2030, an 80% reduction by 2040, and a 100% reduction by 2050.

Massachusetts ranks 35^th in percent increase for wind generation; 10^th for solar generation; 12^th for EV registration; and 5^th for EV charging ports.

Connecticut ranks 41^st in percent increase for wind generation between 2014-2023; 23^rd for solar generation; 23^rd for EV registration; and 20^th for EV charging ports.

The three states are working together in the first cooperative agreement of its kind to procure a combined 2,878 megawatts of offshore wind energy from three projects by three developers. The procurement, announced in September, was a result of coordinated requests for proposals issued last fall by the three states.

Rhode Island selected 200 megawatts (MW) from the SouthCoast Wind project, by developer Ocean Winds, a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE. Construction on the project is expected to start in 2025 and to deliver power by 2030.

Massachusetts selected 2,678 MW of power from three projects. They will include 1,087 MW from SouthCoast Wind; 791 MW from New England Wind 1 (formerly called Park City Wind), built by the developer Avangrid; and 800 MW from Vineyard Wind 2, built by the developer Vineyard Offshore.

In addition to highlighting states that have made the most progress in adopting renewable energy technologies, the dashboard also details the gains achieved nationally over the past decade. According to the report, America produced more than three times as much renewable electricity from the sun and the wind in 2023 as in 2014 — enough to power nearly 39 million homes in 2023.

When it comes to EVs, there were nearly 3.3 million on American roads at the end of 2023 — a 25-fold increase from 2014. Meanwhile, the number of EV charging ports nationwide exceeded 176,000 — a nearly seven-fold increase from 2014 and a 22% increase from the year before.