From July 2025 through June 2026, Rhode Island’s electricity consumption remained heavily dependent on fossil fuels, which supplied about 86% of the total. Gas alone accounted for roughly 84%, while oil supplied almost 2%. Low-carbon electricity contributed about 14%, led by solar at nearly 11%: roughly 8% from utility-scale installations and 3% from behind-the-meter systems, such as rooftop solar. Wind and biofuels each supplied about 2%. Expanding clean electricity would help reduce the climate impacts and air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

Is Electricity Growing in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island’s latest figures do not show electricity consumption growing relative to its historical peak. In 2026, consumption stood at about 8,960 kWh per person, around 1,040 kWh—or 10%—below the 2023 record of nearly 10,000 kWh per person. Low-carbon electricity generation was also slightly below its record, at about 1,290 kWh per person compared with roughly 1,310 in 2023, a decline of about 2%. These figures indicate a shortfall against the records, rather than necessarily a year-over-year decline. The lack of progress is concerning as electrification and growing AI-related demand call for more electricity, especially clean electricity.

Suggestions

Rhode Island can build on its existing solar contribution by expanding both utility-scale installations and rooftop systems. The US states of Nevada and California demonstrate solar’s potential, generating about 35% and 31% of their electricity from solar, respectively. Nearby regions offer particularly relevant lessons for a broader low-carbon electricity strategy: the US states of New Hampshire and Connecticut generate about 52% and 36% of their electricity from nuclear, while the US state of Maine generates about 18% from wind. Rhode Island should consider nuclear development and regional partnerships alongside additional solar and wind generation, drawing on these examples to increase its supply of clean electricity.

History

The supplied history for 2024–2026 shows little movement in Rhode Island’s listed low-carbon electricity sources. Biofuel generation fell by 0.1 TWh in 2024, then recorded no change in 2025 or 2026. Wind and hydro recorded no change in all three years at the precision provided. This limited record therefore shows a small decline followed by stagnation in these sources, rather than sustained clean-electricity growth. It contains no historical changes for solar or nuclear, so it cannot establish their trends over this period.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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