CRANSTON, R.I. — The Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity announced Thursday that it has launched an online petition calling on state policymakers to reconsider Rhode Island’s current energy strategy, arguing it could lead to higher electricity costs and increased risks to grid reliability.

“As public outcry about the high costs and risks associated with existing green energy policies continues to grow, many other northeast states have either modified – or signaled their intent to modify – their unsustainable policies,” commented the Center’s CEO, Mike Stenhouse. “This petition gives voice to Ocean State residents who are concerned that they and our state will suffer future ‘energy poverty’.”

The petition urges the Senate Commission to Study the Implementation of the state’s Act on Climate mandates to recommend a new approach that prioritizes what the group describes as affordable and abundant energy over renewable sources it characterizes as unreliable and costly. According to the center, the petition is aimed at influencing the commission’s ongoing review of policies designed to move Rhode Island toward its legally mandated “net-zero” greenhouse gas emissions goals.

The petition is available online and is being promoted under the hashtag #Energy2026RI. The organization said each signature will automatically generate an email to members of the Senate commission as well as other legislative leaders, with an option for signers to include personal comments.

The Senate commission was established to study how Rhode Island should implement the Act on Climate, a law requiring significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decades. Its recommendations are expected to inform future legislative and regulatory decisions on the state’s energy policies.

The Center recently released a report that concludes that Rhode Island’s current energy policies could result in sharply higher electricity rates over the next decade, driven by increased reliance on intermittent renewable sources, expanded transmission infrastructure, and mandated electrification of heating and transportation. It also raises concerns about grid reliability, citing limited regional generation capacity and the potential for supply shortfalls during periods of peak demand or extreme weather.

The study further argues that the state’s net-zero emissions targets are unlikely to be achieved within the required timelines without significant economic disruption. It warns that higher energy costs could disproportionately affect low-income households and small businesses, while also placing competitive pressure on employers. The report recommends that policymakers reassess existing mandates and consider alternative strategies that emphasize fuel diversity, reliability, and affordability.