Over the past year, from September 2024 to August 2025, electricity consumption in Rhode Island heavily relied on fossil energy, with more than 87% of electricity generated from fossil sources. Gas alone contributed nearly 87% of the total electricity. On the other hand, low-carbon or clean energy accounted for almost 11% of the electricity, with solar energy providing over 7%, wind energy close to 2%, and the remaining small fraction coming from biofuels and net imports. It's clear that Rhode Island's energy production is still dominated by fossil fuels, posing challenges for sustainable development and climate goals.

Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in Rhode Island?

Looking at electricity consumption trends in Rhode Island, there has been a notable reduction. The latest figures from 2025 show 8,700 kWh consumed per person, a drop of 753 kWh from the 2023 record of 9,453 kWh per person. However, there is a silver lining in the form of low-carbon electricity, which has seen growth. The latest data indicates 953 kWh per person generated from low-carbon sources—a positive change of 74 kWh since the 2024 record. This progress in clean energy is encouraging, yet there is still a need for Rhode Island to significantly boost its overall electricity consumption and clean energy percentage to meet increasing environmental and societal demands.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Rhode Island could draw lessons from other successful regions. For example, New Hampshire and Connecticut, states in close proximity, derive 55% and 36% of their electricity, respectively, from nuclear power. Shifting towards nuclear, along with enhancing solar energy like California's solar success at 21%, would be crucial steps for Rhode Island. Meanwhile, introducing more wind power, inspired by states like Iowa and South Dakota, which generate around 60% and 57% of their electricity from wind, could greatly complement Rhode Island’s clean energy strategy. Exploring these options not only diversifies the energy portfolio but aligns with sustainable practices to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

History

Historically, Rhode Island has experienced varied shifts in low-carbon electricity contributions. In the early 2000s, biofuels saw an increase, adding 0.1 TWh in 2006. However, the decade that followed was marked by fluctuations, with solar energy making modest yet steady gains between 2020 and 2025, contributing an additional 0.1 to 0.2 TWh annually. Wind energy also saw incremental growth in 2017 with a slight increase of 0.1 TWh, but remained largely stagnant afterwards. While these changes have incrementally boosted low-carbon, clean electricity generation, Rhode Island still has substantial room to expand its solar, wind, and potentially nuclear capabilities to serve as a frontrunner in the transition to sustainable energy systems.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade