Efficient appliances are great for consumers because they save residents and businesses money on their electricity bills while reducing carbon pollution. Appliance standards ensure that all available products meet minimum efficiency standards for modern technology. But our appliance efficiency standards haven't been updated in over a decade, and, because federal policymakers aren't stepping up to strengthen our appliance standards, it's up to the states.

Rhode Island's energy systems should be sustainable, affordable, and reliable for all of the state's energy consumers. The state's gas and electric utility, National Grid, ensures that we always have enough energy supply to meet demand. Rhode Island's Least Cost Procurement mandate (originally established by the 2006 Comprehensive Energy Act) requires that National Grid invest in energy efficiency as a way to reduce demand before resorting to buying additional energy supply.

How do we shift our economy away from dirty, expensive, and dangerous fossil fuels and towards clean energy? One solution is to put a fair, real price on carbon pollution. The Energize RI Act accounts for the carbon pollution in our energy system by putting a fee on fossil fuels at the first point of sale. The resulting revenue goes towards protecting vulnerable groups from the impact of higher energy prices and investing in clean energy and climate resilience.

Efficient appliances are great for consumers because they save residents and businesses money on their electricity bills while reducing carbon pollution. Appliance standards ensure that all available products meet minimum efficiency standards for modern technology. But our appliance efficiency standards haven't been updated in over a decade, and, because federal policymakers aren't stepping up to strengthen our appliance standards, it's up to the states.

Over the next decade, as we race towards large-scale decarbonization of the electric grid, the structure, regulation, and function of the power system must undergo significant changes. In Rhode Island, the Office of Energy Resources and Public Utilities Commission kickstarted these changes with the Power Sector Transformation initiative in early 2017. Over the course of 2017, Rhode Island energy stakeholders (including Green Energy Consumers) met to plan for future of the state's electric grid.

In 2015, the EPA announced that Volkswagen had violated the Clean Air Act by intentionally selling vehicles that emit dangerous and illegal levels of nitrous oxide (NOx) air pollution. As a result of an ensuing court case, Rhode Island received settlement payments totaling over $14 million, earmarked for air pollution mitigation. Green Energy Consumers worked with state agencies and stakeholders to ensure that the $14 million funded strong investments in electric transportation and charging infrastructure.

In 2014, the Resilient Rhode Rhode Island Act set unenforced targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 10% by 2020, 45% by 2035, and 80% by 2050. The proposed Rhode Island Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) would add targets for 2025 and 2045, increase the 2035 target to 50%, and make the targets mandatory and enforceable.

Massachusetts’ Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) requires regulated electricity utilities (i.e. Eversource, National Grid, Unitil) to supply a minimum percentage of electricity from renewable sources each year. Since it was first implemented in 2003, the RPS has helped support new renewable electricity generation by ensuring demand for renewable energy in Massachusetts.