PROVIDENCE—Spurred
by skyrocketing energy costs, concerns over jobs and dollars leaving
the economy and the need to protect Rhode Island’s environment, a new
coalition called POWER (Protect Our Workers, Economy and Resources) has
formed representing over 75,000 Rhode Islanders. The POWER coalition
will advocate for policy solutions that reduce energy costs for all
commercial, residential and industrial energy consumers.
“I
am extremely concerned about the impact energy costs are having on
Rhode Island’s economy,” said John Farley, Executive Director of the
Energy Council of Rhode Island (TEC-RI) and a POWER member. “Rhode
Island already sends well over a billion energy dollars out of the
state each year. This year everything possible must be done to lower
costs and keep more energy dollars in the local economy so we can stop
the bleeding.”
The
POWER coalition has identified a number of cost-cutting policies that
should be adopted this year. One goal of the POWER coalition is to
unite businesses, consumer groups, low income advocates, senior groups
and environmental groups in support of a cost-cutting energy platform.
“Rhode
Island needs energy solutions that will lower costs, improve our
economy and preserve our environment,” said Matt Auten, Advocate with
the Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (RIPIRG). “Those
solutions are out there. So far businesses and consumers have had to
shoulder the burden of rising energy costs. Now the General Assembly
should make sure that big energy companies don’t stop them from
implementing solutions that will lower costs for consumers,” Auten
concluded.
The POWER coalition has identified the need for policies that will result in:
• Less uneconomic energy use.
• More energy efficiency, particularly for low-income households where
efficiency can both immediately help those in need and save tax dollars
in the years ahead..
• A diversified energy supply with more power coming from renewable energy and distributed generation.
• A higher load factor, which makes better use of existing infrastructure and attracts better energy price offers.
• Increased public participation in energy planning and energy decisions that affect ratepayers.
“This
winter’s energy crisis has brought everyone to the table,” said Sam
Krasnow, Policy Advocate and Attorney for Environment Northeast. “The
POWER coalition has designed a platform that will save tens of millions
of dollars a year in energy costs- reinvesting that money in the
state’s economy, instead of loosing those dollars to other countries
and states,” Krasnow continued.
To achieve its policy goals the POWER coalition has committed to support legislation that:
1. Creates a natural gas energy efficiency program.
2. Removes barriers to combined heat and power projects and allows net metering.
3. Extends standard offer and requires meeting energy needs through new least cost procurement approaches.
4. Creates new appliance efficiency standards, including standards for residential furnaces and boilers.
5. Establishes a heating fuel efficiency program.
6. Creates a new board to oversee and approve all energy efficiency programs and energy procurement.
“If
the General Assembly adopts legislation that encompasses these reforms,
Rhode Island will better poised for economic development, and the jobs
that go with it” said Erich Stephens, Executive Director of People’s
Power & Light. “The more we can meet our energy needs through
efficiency and distributed generation, the more our energy dollars will
go to jobs here in Rhode Island, instead of shipping them overseas.”
Stephens concluded.
Sometimes
it takes a crisis to get action,” said Sheila Dormody, Executive
Director of Clean Water Action in Rhode Island. “POWER has a unique
platform to cut costs and promote energy independence that everyone
from individual consumers, to environmental groups to the state’s
largest energy users can get behind, and we like our chances for
success this year.”
The
founding members of the POWER coalition are the Rhode Island Public
Interest Research Group (RIPIRG), the Energy Council of Rhode Island
(TEC-RI), Environment Northeast, People’s Power & Light, and Clean
Water Action.
POWER
has already identified several pieces of legislation and proposals that
it will support including S.2734 (Bates), S.2733 (Roberts) and the
proposal by the House leadership to create an energy efficiency sales
tax holiday. In addition, the coalition will actively engage with the
House and Senate leadership to shape and craft bills that will lower
energy costs for all Rhode Islanders.
Additional Contacts
John Farley, TEC-RI (401) 621-2240
Erich Stephens, People’s Power & Light, (401) 487-3320
Sam Krasnow, Environment Northeast, (617) 469-6375
Sheila Dormody, Clean Water Action, (401) 331-6972
