FREEZING IN THE DARK: THE STAGGERING COSTS & RISKS OF RI’S GREEN ENERGY POLICIES

STENHOUSE SENATE PRESENTATION

A new report from the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity, titled Freezing in the Dark: The Staggering Costs & Risks of RI’s Green Energy Policies, 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.

SIGN THE PETITION NOW STAGGERING COSTS OF ENERGY POLICIES FREEZING IN THE DARK REPORT ALTERNATIVES REPORT STEN REACTS

MUST READ: Mike Stenhouse: Senate Commission Must “Act” on RI’s ‘Act On Climate’

TESTIMONY: Senate Commission to Study the Successful Implementation of the Act on Climate

In this powerful testimony, Mike Stenhouse, CEO of the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity, explains why energy policy—not taxes, not housing, not government services—is the single most important determinant of Rhode Island’s future prosperity or poverty. Whether one believes in climate change or not, the economic consequences of the Act on Climate are unavoidable.
February 5, 2026/by RI Center for Freedom

MEDIA RELEASE: Center Launches Petition Calling for Affordable Energy Policies

The Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity today announced that it has launched an online petition drive calling for policymakers to support a fundamental pivot away from our state's current energy strategy, which will lead to staggeringly high electricity prices and potentially dangerous blackouts.
January 27, 2026/by RI Center for Freedom

NEW REPORT PROVIDES ALTERNATIVES TO RHODE ISLAND’S SUICIDAL ACT ON CLIMATE POLICIES

New Englanders would save hundreds of billions of dollars and avoid deadly power blackouts by replacing state-mandated renewable energy projects with nuclear and natural gas power, a study released today by a coalition of New England think tanks finds.

Alternatives to New England’s Energy Suicide, released by New England’s free-market think tanks along with Americans for Prosperity Foundation, estimated the effects of trying to meet the region’s energy needs through 2050 with nuclear and natural gas plants instead of wind and solar power.
January 13, 2026/by RI Center for Freedom

Stenhouse Challenges Zurier’s Special Senate Energy Commission to “Act” on the Act On Climate

With "affordability" top of mind for Ocean State residents, the CEO of the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity today called upon Senator Sam Zurier and all members of the special Senate Energy Commission he chairs to take a w holistic and realistic look at Rhode Island's net-zero policies and Act On Climate mandates.
January 2, 2026/by RI Center for Freedom

Center Cosigns Letter Supporting Seafreeze Petition to Suspend VINEYARD WIND Construction

Today, CEO for the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity, Mike Stenhouse, co-signed a letter, along with national energy expert, G. Allen Brooks, requesting Doug Brugum, Secretary of the US Department Of the Interior (DOI), and other federal officials to accept the formal petition previously filed Seafreeze Inc (and others) that calls upon the government to immediately suspend "further construction and energy generation activity" of the near-completed Vineyard Wind off-shore wind project.
August 18, 2025/by RI Center for Freedom

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.
May 19, 2025/by RI Center for Freedom

New Report Warns Rhode Island Energy Policies Put Affordability and Reliability at Risk

The Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity has released a new report raising concerns about the state’s current approach to energy and climate policy. The report, titled Freezing in the Dark, provides an overview of how existing mandates and regulations could negatively impact electricity costs, grid reliability, and long-term infrastructure planning. Due to decades of state legislative and executive actions on energy that are not supported by valid research or technologic advancements, Ocean State residents already pay some of the highest electricity prices in the country.
May 19, 2025/by RI Center for Freedom

Center Signs-On to Coalition Letter to Decouple RI from California’s Oppressive Emissions Policies

The RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity has signed-on to…
March 10, 2022/by Mike Stenhouse

Center Co-Signs National Coalition Letter to the EPA to Revoke the “California Waiver”

The Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity is pleased…
May 11, 2018/by RI Center for Freedom

Center: Progressive Policies Root Cause of Electricity Rate Hikes on RI Families

STATEMENT - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 2017
As forewarned,…
August 23, 2017/by RI Center for Freedom

STATEMENT: Center Joins National Taxpayer Group to Oppose Carbon Tax Scheme

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 1, 2017

15 Cents per Gallon…
March 1, 2017/by RI Center for Freedom

RI Energy Mandates Will Continue to Harm State Economy, Perpetuates Cronyism

MEDIA RELEASE

June 13, 2016

RI Families Once Again Left…
July 31, 2016/by RI Center for Freedom

LINKS:

Mike Stenhouse: Senate Commission Must “Act” on RI’s ‘Act On Climate’

RI Grades “F” for Insufficient Wind/Solar Decommissioning