From July 2025 through June 2026, Rhode Island’s electricity consumption was dominated by fossil fuels, which supplied about 86% of the total. Gas alone accounted for almost 84%, with oil providing nearly 2%. Low-carbon sources supplied the remaining 14%. Solar was the largest clean electricity source at about 11%, including roughly 8% from utility-scale installations and 3% from behind-the-meter systems, such as rooftop panels. Wind and biofuels each contributed just under 2%. This leaves considerable scope to replace fossil electricity and reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Rhode Island?

The latest figures do not show Rhode Island reaching new highs in electricity consumption or low-carbon generation. Electricity consumption in 2026 stood at 8,960 kWh per person, about 1,040 kWh—or 10%—below the 2023 record of nearly 10,000 kWh per person. Low-carbon electricity generation reached about 1,290 kWh per person, roughly 24 kWh below its 2023 peak of 1,314 kWh per person, using the supplied change figure. These comparisons show a shortfall from historical records, rather than establishing a year-to-year trend. The lack of a new clean electricity record is concerning as electrification and AI create additional electricity demand.

Suggestions

Rhode Island can build on its established solar contribution by expanding both utility-scale projects and rooftop installations. The US states of California and Nevada, where solar supplies about 31% and 35% of electricity respectively, offer examples of much larger solar contributions. Nearby nuclear experience is particularly relevant: nuclear supplies about 52% of electricity in the US state of New Hampshire and 36% in the US state of Connecticut. Rhode Island should consider new nuclear generation and regional partnerships alongside solar expansion to increase dependable low-carbon electricity supplies. Wind can also contribute: the US state of Maine gets about 18% of its electricity from wind, while Denmark reaches 59%, offering useful lessons for developing a stronger wind sector.

History

The supplied historical data cover only biofuels, wind and hydro from 2024 through 2026, so they do not describe Rhode Island’s full low-carbon electricity history. In 2024, biofuel electricity generation fell by 0.1 TWh, while wind and hydro showed no reported change. In both 2025 and 2026, all three sources recorded zero change at the precision provided. This limited record therefore shows a small initial decline followed by stagnation, rather than sustained clean electricity growth. Solar and nuclear are not included in this historical series, so their changes cannot be assessed from these figures.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.