The 2016 legislative session wrapped up on June 18. People’s Power & Light (PP&L) was a regular advocate at the Rhode Island State House and a supportive voice of key energy policies. Renewable energy certainly achieved some major wins this year, but other policies will have to try to earn passage again next session.
In the wee hours of the morning stretching the final day of the 2016 legislative session, the Renewable Energy Standard (RES) extension bills passed in both the Senate and the House.
2016 is looking good for solar in Rhode Island. People’s Power & Light (PP&L) is still looking into options to launch our own solar program, but in the meantime we want to share some resources that you can use to install solar this year.
Guest blog originally posted on ReNewable Now's website about our tour of the Pawtucket Hydro Facility on Nov 7, 2015.
The City of Providence is actively improving a plan to become more sustainable in several sectors, and PP&L is thrilled that the recent topic for open review was energy. The “Sustainable Providence” plan was spearheaded by the Office of Sustainability and the Environmental Sustainability Task Force. The old plan is being revitalized as “SustainPVD” by Mayor Jorge Elorza and new Sustainability Director Leah Bamberger. The revision process is open to the public and all interested are encouraged to engage in the development.
The warmer weather and blossoms on Smith Hill are evidence we’re in the heat of the Rhode Island legislative session. People’s Power & Light (PP&L) has invited key policy makers, including General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, to our upcoming Annual Meeting May 13th. The evening is an opportunity for energy professionals and friends to learn about key policies PP&L supports. Rhode Island continues to make meaningful progress in green infrastructure, but there is more work to be done.
In a recent post we provided Massachusetts residents with a step-by-step guide to making heating system upgrades using Mass Save rebates to replace their aging heating systems with more efficient models. Rhode Island also has incentive programs available to help upgrade heating systems and make other energy efficiency improvements in Rhode Island homes. Rhode Island residents can lower their energy costs by following these steps:
Thanks to a 4-2 vote of the Town Council on June 3, there is a good chance for the Portsmouth, RI local wind turbine to spin again. And if everything falls into place, Portsmouth will once again become part of People’s Power & Light/Mass Energy’s green power portfolio as early as September 2014.
On May 6th, our members and friends gathered at the beautiful Roger Williams Park Casino in Providence for People’s Power & Light (PP&L)’s 12th Annual Meeting (check out photos here). To kick off the speaking part of the evening, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse congratulated PP&L via video from Washington, DC.
Rhode Island was one of the first states in the country to establish a renewable energy standard, a requirement for electricity suppliers to include an increasing percentage of power from sources such as local wind turbines and solar. The standard has worked well, changing the mix that Rhode Islanders get, whether they purchase from National Grid or through a competitive supplier. The standard is scheduled to increase by 1 or 1.5% per year. However, we were disappointed in December to learn that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), appointees of Governor Chafee, voted 2–1 to delay a scheduled increase in the state’s requirement. What it means, very simply, is less renewable energy purchased by Rhode Islanders. And that means less green power on the New England grid because generators cannot get financing to build projects unless there is sufficient demand.
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