Jan 17, 2020 - (Reuters) - Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order on Friday aiming for renewable energy to provide all of the state’s electricity by 2030 to fight climate change.
With the order, Rhode Island joins several other states that have set 100% clean energy goals, including Hawaii, California, New Mexico, Maine, New York, Washington and Virginia, according to Environment America [link below], an environmental group advocating the country produce all of its energy from clean and renewable energy.
The smallest U.S. state has about 2,000 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity, enough to power about 2 million homes. Almost all of that capacity - about 1,800 MW - is gas-fired.
As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2019, the state has counted approximately 866 MW of clean energy generation capacity. Of that 866 MW total, 430 MW is offshore wind, 246 MW is solar, 144 MW is onshore wind, 35 MW is landfill gas/anaerobic digestion, and 11 MW is small hydroelectric power.
With the addition of the 400 MW Revolution Wind project, approximately 85 percent of Rhode Island's current clean energy portfolio is comprised of in-state renewables or projects scheduled for adjacent federal waters.
The 1000 MW goal is not just about energy, but clean energy jobs too. Now 16,021 jobs strong, Rhode Island's clean energy economy continues to demonstrate robust economic growth. Since 2014, clean energy employment in the Ocean State has grown by an impressive 74 percent. The Governor has set a goal to reach a total of 20,000 clean energy jobs by 2020.
The Rhode Island order has interim targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, to 45% below 1990 levels by 2035 and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
That's total GHG emissions, not just electricity. Cars and other vehicles, agriculture, industry…