First US offshore wind farm will supply power to Rhode Island in Q4 Photo: Deepwater Wind

Rhode Island set to raise renewables mandate to 40%

Rhode Island’s legislature passed a bill that raises the renewable energy mandate from 14.5% by 2019 to 40% by 2035, joining a growing number of US states that have done so to diversify their energy mix and reduce CO2 emissions.

22 June 2016 17:27 GMT Updated 25 October 2016 16:01 GMT

By Richard A. Kessler in Fort Worth

Governor Gina Raimondo, a strong supporter of wind energy development, is expected to sign the bill, 2016-S 2185A/House 7413B into law.

“States with the best policies are going to attract the most business,” contends American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) chief executive Tom Kiernan.

According to the non-profit Wind Energy Foundation, growing wind power in Rhode Island could result in $240m in electricity bill savings by 2050 and up to $744m in savings through lower natural gas prices.

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