Governor Gina Raimondo has signed an executive order making Rhode Island the first US state to target being 100% renewable energy-powered by the end of the decade, with offshore wind set to play a central role.

Her executive order directs the state's Office of Energy Resources to conduct an economic and energy market analysis and develop actionable policies and programmes to reach this goal.

“We're already leading the fight against climate change, but we have to take increasingly aggressive action if we want to avoid catastrophe,” said Raimondo.