Rhode Island Becomes First New England State to Announce the Launch of $31 Million Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program

Last week, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, joined by Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER), announced the launch of the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program.

The HEAR program, administered by OER, will support the adoption of ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump clothes dryers, electric stoves, ranges, ovens, or induction cooktops, and improvements to electric wiring and electric load service centers for Rhode Island residents. OER has received $31,820,030 from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund this multi-year program.

Secretary Granholm marked the HEAR program launch with a special town hall event on the importance of home energy efficiency at the IBEW Local 99 Union Hall in Cranston, joined by local labor leaders, community organizations, and industry professionals. She continued her tour of RI with a visit to a local home.

To learn more about the program and apply today, visit: energy.ri.gov/energy-incentives/home-energy-rebate-program

Rhode Island, Massachusetts Announce Largest Offshore Wind Selection in New England History

This month, Rhode Island and Massachusetts announced the selection of 2,878 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind in the first coordinated procurement of its kind. As a part of the procurement, Massachusetts selected 2,678 MW in total from three projects, and Rhode Island selected 200 MW from one project. Through this procurement, offshore wind will power over 125,000 Rhode Island homes and 1.4 million Massachusetts homes.

Massachusetts selected 1,087 MW of the multistate 1,287 MW SouthCoast Wind project, with Rhode Island Energy awarding the remaining 200 MW. Massachusetts also selected the 791 MW New England Wind 1 project, and up to 800 MW of the 1,260 MW Vineyard Wind 2 project.

RI Gets New $15M Boost to Expand Publicly Available Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Rhode Island’s efforts to increase publicly available electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and make it more convenient for drivers of electric vehicles to charge up their cars is getting a $15 million jolt in federal funding.

In August, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Governor Dan McKee announced $15 million in new federal funding for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to help install over 200 new electric vehicle charging stations at convenient locations across the state. The funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, which was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58), which Reed and Whitehouse helped enact in 2021.

New England States Selected to Receive $389 Million in Federal Funding for Transformational Offshore Wind Transmission and Energy Storage Infrastructure Investments

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced that it has selected the New England states’ Power Up New England (Power Up) proposal to receive up to $389 million to fund the application the New England states submitted to DOE through the second round of the agency’s competitive Grid Innovation Program (GIP).

Power Up features significant investments in regional electric infrastructure including proactive upgrades to points of interconnection in Southeast Massachusetts and Southeast Connecticut to ready the onshore transmission system for up to 4,800 megawatts (MW) of additional offshore wind. Power Up will also deploy an innovative, multi-day battery energy storage system in Northern Maine to enhance grid resilience and optimize the delivery of renewable energy. This regional collaboration is vital to advancing our clean energy goals as these investments will help make our grid more resilient and reliable while reducing energy burdens across New England. 

To learn more about the Grid Innovation Program, visit: https://www.energy.gov/gdo/grid-innovation-program

Rhode Island College Completes Campus-Wide LED Lighting System Installation

Rhode Island College with the assistance of the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) and Rhode Island Energy has completed a campus-wide installation of LED lighting systems with controls. The project, funded through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the state’s energy efficiency programs, upgraded lighting in the John E. Fogarty Life Sciences Building, the Murray Center, Gary M. Penfield Residence Hall, Forman Center, and Building 1, with their completion making RIC’s campus 100 percent LED lighting.



“Rhode Island College’s dedication to improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions sets a powerful example for our state,” said Governor McKee. “This project is a significant step forward in our commitment to the Act on Climate, demonstrating that with collaboration and innovation, we can achieve a sustainable future for Rhode Island.”

October 3, 2024

12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

ASAP Community Discussion and Networking Event

In-person, Sprout Coworking Providence

October 5, 2024

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Drive Green at the Park

In-person, Goddard Memorial State Park

October 8, 2024

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

WEBINAR: Commercial Energy Code and Zero Energy Buildings

Zoom

October 15, 2024

9:00 a.m.

RI Energy, BOC and CLEAResult - Rhode Island 2024 Commercial Energy Code Update

Zoom

October 16, 2024

8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

RIBA: Residential- Air Source Heat Pumps

Zoom

October 21-23, 2024

Phius Pro Forum 2024

In-person, Providence Convention Center

*Events are subject to change. Always check the event website for updated times, dates and location details before you attend.

Would you like to add your energy-related event to our calendar? Send the details and event URL to Natalie.Bishop.CTR@energy.ri.gov.