Clean Heat Rhode Island was formed as part of Rhode Island’s Act on Climate, which mandates the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, as compared to 1990 levels. As shown in the Heating Sector Transformation (HST) Report, a third of Rhode Island’s emissions come from the thermal sector, and the most significant contributor to thermal sector emissions is residential and commercial space heating. The HST Report explores pathways to decarbonize this sector and suggests pursuing a mix of decarbonization options to achieve net zero emissions.
As a first step, strategic electrification—converting fossil fuel heating systems to highly efficient electric heating and cooling technologies—is a cost-effective way to help motivate the transition to emissions-free heating and cooling in Rhode Island. Implementing a high-efficiency heat pump program, like Clean Heat Rhode Island, provides financial incentives to encourage the adoption of heat pump technology, prepares the labor force for the transition to clean heating technology, and provides sustainable employment opportunities for the coming decades.
