Green Power Purchasing for State Facilities

In December 2015, Governor Raimondo issued an executive order establishing a renewable energy and an energy efficiency goal for the State facilities. The order directs the RI state government: 1) to procure 100% of its electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2025, and 2) reduce energy consumption by at least 10% below 2014 levels by 2019. The executive order was directed in accordance to the Resilient Rhode Island Act, which includes a voluntary goal for the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 45% below 1990 levels by 2035 and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. 

The Office of Energy Resources (OER) will oversee and coordinate efforts at the state agencies by establishing a Lead by Example program. The energy use for each of the State agencies and their progress towards reaching their goal will be made publicly available. The OER will publish its first report monitoring the compliance and progress by October 1, 2016. 

The executive order is limited only to state facilities in RI. The state government is one of the largest energy consumers in Rhode Island with energy expenses of nearly 35 million in 2014.