PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island’s renewable energy programs could see their biggest changes in almost two decades, if state lawmakers approve Gov. Dan McKee’s fiscal 2027 budget proposal.
The state Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Jan. 15 rolled out the $15 billion state budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year starting July 1. Included in the proposal, as part of the governor’s bid for “Affordability for All,” are a series of cuts and caps to the programs that fund renewable energy goals and are funded from state taxes and charges on monthly utility programs.
The changes would save ratepayers $1 billion over the next five years, state budget officials said. A month-to-month estimate provided shows ratepayers would save around $180 a year on average, or $15 every month on their utility bills…