Rhode Island has the potential to become the first state in the United States to become fully decarbonized, according to a new report by the ILR School’s Worker Institute. 

Released Feb 2, the report outlines a comprehensive climate jobs action plan to put Rhode Island on the path to building an equitable clean energy economy. Core provisions of the plan include decarbonizing the state’s K-12 public school buildings, installing 900 MW of solar energy statewide, 1,300 MW of offshore wind energy, and modernizing the state’s electrical grid by 2030. 

“As a small state with one of the lowest emissions in the country, Rhode Island can be innovative and efficient, employing cutting-edge approaches to reverse climate change and inequality. Rhode Island has the potential to be the first state in the country to fully decarbonize and build out a net zero economy with high-quality union jobs. This would make Rhode Island's economy stronger, fairer and more inclusive,” said Lara Skinner, director, Labor Leading on Climate Initiative, part of the ILR School’s Worker Institute, and a report author.

The full version of this story appears on the ILR website.
Stephanie Olszewski is the communications specialist at the Worker Institute.