Blueprint

To create a blueprint for a new, state-of-the art energy system, our experts will need to know what we want and how we want it to work.

This is what we’ll ask them to research and design:

Technical Plan

  1. bring Rhode Island to best possible energy efficiency
  2. generate 100% of Rhode Island’s energy needs with solar and wind power
    • siting solar and wind without harming or disrupting wilderness, habitats, and wildlife
    • using offshore and onshore wind, including evaluating vertical-access wind turbines (VAWT)
    • including other viable clean energy production technologies and an evaluation of marine energy
  3. create extra energy production for out-of-state energy sales
    • following criteria for generating 100% energy
  4. renovate the grid to handle all energy
    • including adding extra capacity for additional energy production
    • including evaluating micro-grids and battery energy storage
  5. electrify heating/cooling and transportation
    • including evaluating replacing natural gas pipelines with geothermal loops
    • including evaluating commuter rail
  6. analyze incorporating carbon capture and storage (CCS) into construction

Economic Report

  1. calculate costs and profits
  2. evaluate best ratio of public/private development and ownership for maximum state revenue
    • including evaluating leasing/partnerships with property owners
    • including assessing the impact of solar panels and wind turbines on property values and sales
  3. calculate electricity rates
  4. assess reinvestment of profits into Rhode Island communities
    • including building an emergency reserve and paying annual dividends to citizens
  5. evaluate jobs and other economic effects during building and after construction
  6. assess investment opportunities for city and state pensions and Rhode Island nonprofit endowments
  7. identify all people who will suffer irrecoverable economic losses from a conversion to clean energy and assess ways those losses can be remedied or repaid
  8. evaluate how to make a transition affordable for all citizens

Legal and Regulatory Recommendations

  1. Identify changes to existing laws and regulations and new laws that will be needed to enable and support a Rhode Island utility