Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Background On The State's Path Towards 20 Percent Renewable Energy:

In 2006, Governor Carcieri announced an ambitious plan to increase the use of renewable sources of energy to generate 20 percent of the state's electricity needs. It was expected that approximately 15 percent would be derived from wind energy. The recently announced Ridgewood Energy project at the central landfill will provide another 5 percent of the state's energy requirement. Together, these projects will be on track to meet the Governor's renewable energy goals.

In June 2007, the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources received the results of a report it had commissioned to determine the best locations for the development of wind energy projects. The report ranked ten sites according to the amount and cost of producible energy, whether or not the sites were in federal or state waters, and the visibility of the projects from shore. Factors highlighted in the report would guide the selection of sites. Most importantly, the report projected that 15 percent of Rhode Island's average energy demand at a competitive cost could be achieved by establishing a wind farm using areas identified as J and K in the study.

Last fall, an extensive stakeholder process was organized to evaluate the study. Participants in the four stakeholder meetings included city and town representatives, environmental organizations, local economic development organizations, commercial and recreational fishing interests, state government agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard, area university representatives, National Grid officials, and consultants to the RI Office of Energy Resources.

In April, the State issued a formal RFP seeking proposals from private companies to construct and operate an off-shore wind farm. In June, Governor Carcieri announced the team of individuals responsible for selecting the contractor to develop and construct a wind energy project off the shores of Rhode Island.

The Wind Energy Proposal Evaluation Team included several state energy and economic development officials, as well as the Dean of the URI Graduate School of Oceanography, Dr. David Farmer. Seven proposals were received.

In June 2008, the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund Board of Trustees approved funding for the development of a SAMP covering Rhode Island's offshore waters, executed by a joint partnership between the Coastal Resources Management Council and the University of Rhode Island. URI will provide data to the CRMC, who will execute the regulatory framework of the SAMP.

Under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, preparation of a SAMP may enable permitting of projects within the area covered by the SAMP to proceed on the basis of an Environmental Assessment in lieu of an Environmental Impact Statement. The SAMP process is expected to be completed in two years.

Seven proposals were received by the Wind Energy Proposal Evaluation Team. Proposals were evaluated on the basis of total cost to Rhode Island ratepayers, the qualification and experience of the proposer in constructing wind projects, and the number of jobs and the amount of tax dollars to be created. The Evaluation Team was assisted by independent consultants in the area of energy economics and engineering technology, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. "The fact that the RFP generated more than double the responses that other states received in similar processes is testimony to the Governor's foresight in embracing the Special Area Management Planning process," commented Andrew Dzykewicz, Commissioner of the Office of Energy Resources. "This demonstrates that, given regulatory certainty, the private sector is ready to invest in projects of this nature, and can provide cost-effective renewable energy to consumers."