Northeast

Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the nation and the second most densely populated. Greenhouse gas emissions in the state have risen by 12% from 1990-2021, with the largest increase occurring in the electric power sector. While the majority of the state’s electricity is sourced from natural gas, Rhode Island developed the first commercial-scale wind farm off of Block Island. The state also consumes the lowest amount of energy among U.S. states on a per capita basis.

GHG Reduction Targets

All targets relative to 1990 levels

2030

45%

2040

80%

2050

Net-zero

Governor

Daniel McKee (Democrat)

House Party

Democratic Supermajority

Senate Party

Democratic Supermajority

Legislative session

1/2/24 - 6/14/24

US Climate Alliance Status

Member

Key Offices & Links

30

Policies Enacted or In Progress

across 6 policy areas

See all

32

Policy Opportunities

across 7 policy areas

See all

Northeast

9 states

This map shows the occurrence of climate policies passed at the state-level. Higher numbers represent more climate policies enacted.

Compare with other states

Progress by Policy Area

Enacted
In-progress
Partially Enacted
Not Enacted

Glossary of Terms

Status	Policy	Policy Area	Policy Category	YR Enacted
Enacted	Commercial Energy Codes Empty column The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is 2018 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2016 with amendments. Establishing Policies Rhode Island State Energy Code (2021)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Codes	2021
Enacted	Residential Energy Codes Empty column The statewide energy code for residential construction is 2018 IECC with amendments. Establishing Policies Rhode Island State Energy Code (2021) S 0855A (2023)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Codes	2021
Enacted	Stretch Building Energy Codes Empty column The Rhode Island Stretch Codes are used on a voluntary basis for private and public building construction and renovation projects. Establishing Policies Rhode Island Stretch Codes (2018)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Codes	2018
Enacted	Appliance Standards Empty column The Energy and Water Efficiency Standards apply to 15 products. Establishing Policies S 0339A (2021) H5550A (2023) S1119 (2023) Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Standards	2023
Not Enacted	Building Performance Standards Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions.	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Standards
Not Enacted	Clean Heat Standards Empty column Clean heat standards establish a performance standard requiring heat providers to deliver a gradually-increasing percentage of low-emission heating services to customers.	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Standards
Enacted	Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS) Empty column Electric utilities are required to achieve total energy savings equivalent to 1,397,644 lifetime megawatt-hours (MWh) in 2024, 1,401,610 lifetime MWh in 2025, and 1,413,953 lifetime MWh in 2026. Gas utilities are required to achieve total energy savings equivalent to 7,058,839 lifetime million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2024, 7,090,690 lifetime MMBtu in 2025, and 7,119,585 lifetime MMBtu in 2026. Establishing Policies Docket No. 23-21-EE (2023) Recommended Targets for Energy Efficiency and Active Peak Demand Reduction Savings for 2024-2026 (2023)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Efficiency	2023
Enacted	Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Empty column Rhode Island has enacted commercial PACE-enabling legislation and has active programs. Establishing Policies HB 6019 Sub A (2013)	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Efficiency	2013
Partially Enacted	Weatherization Funding Empty column The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies SPOT - Weatherization Funding in Rhode Island Policy Components not-enacted enacted enacted not-enacted 2/4	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Efficiency
Not Enacted	All-Electric Buildings Empty column All-electric buildings policies require new buildings to be constructed with all-electric heating, cooling, and cooking systems to transition away from fossil-fuel use in buildings.	Buildings and Efficiency	Building Electrification

Rhode Island

Key Offices & Links

30

32

Northeast

Progress by Policy Area

Climate Governance and Equity

Cross-Sector

Electricity

Buildings and Efficiency

Transportation

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management

Natural and Working Lands

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Rhode Island