Freezing in the Dark: The Staggering Costs & Risks of RI’s Green Energy Policies
A new report from the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity, titled Freezing in the Dark, warns that the Ocean State’s green energy mandates are pushing residents toward a future of unaffordable electricity and unreliable power. With some of the highest energy prices in the nation, Rhode Islanders are already feeling the impact of policies that outpace technological readiness and ignore infrastructure limitations.
The report outlines how decades of legislation and executive actions—unmoored from sound research—have driven up costs while placing the electric grid under increasing strain. It also highlights concerns from utilities and regional grid operators who warn that full electrification without proper planning could lead to dangerous winter blackouts.
To avoid further harm, the report calls on state leaders to delay Rhode Island’s Net Zero targets by at least 20 years, repeal the electric vehicle mandate, and reconsider the state’s participation in California’s CARB coalition. It urges a more balanced, practical approach to energy that protects both affordability and reliability for Ocean State families.
