Deeper Decarbonization in the Ocean State: The 2019 Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study

The 2019 Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study finds that the state can feasibly reduce emissions by 70-80% by 2030, 2040, or 2050 by focusing on electrification, efficiency, and transitioning the power grid to renewables. The report updates previous 2016 baseline estimates, finding that 2017 emissions were approximately 45% higher than previously thought due to updated science on methane leakage and its short-term global warming potential. While substantial reductions are possible, the study notes that pathways stall at around 4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, leaving a 20-30% gap that requires further research into industrial decarbonization and carbon sequestration.

• Updated scientific data on natural gas leakage and the short-term impacts of methane indicate that Rhode Island's 2017 emissions were approximately 45% higher than the estimates provided in a 2016 study.
• The study concludes that it is feasible for Rhode Island to reduce its emissions by 70-80% by the target years of 2030, 2040, or 2050.
• Achieving a 70-80% reduction in emissions requires three primary strategies: the electrification of heating systems and vehicles, a focus on efficiency, and the replacement of oil, gas, and coal power plants with renewable energy sources.
• Current decarbonization pathways cannot reach zero net emissions, stalling at approximately 4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions because of a lack of rigorous studies on decarbonizing commercial and industrial processes.
• Transitioning away from fossil fuels offers economic and health benefits, including retaining the over $3 billion spent annually on imported gas, oil, and coal—which represents about 5% of Rhode Island's GDP—and reducing cardiopulmonary issues and asthma for residents near highways and energy facilities.

APA

Veysey, J., Roberts, J. T., Traver, D., Cotler, B., Gross, B., & Kim, A. (2019). Deeper Decarbonization in the Ocean State: The 2019 Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/executive-summary-deeper-decarbonization-in-the-ocean-state.pdf

Chicago

Veysey, Jason, J. Timmons Roberts, Daniel Traver, Brett Cotler, Benjamin Gross, and Angie Kim. Deeper Decarbonization in the Ocean State: The 2019 Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2019. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/executive-summary-deeper-decarbonization-in-the-ocean-state.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Veysey |first1=Jason |last2=Roberts |first2=J. Timmons |last3=Traver |first3=Daniel |last4=Cotler |first4=Brett |last5=Gross |first5=Benjamin |last6=Kim |first6=Angie |title=Deeper Decarbonization in the Ocean State: The 2019 Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=12 September 2019 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/executive-summary-deeper-decarbonization-in-the-ocean-state.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{veysey2019deeper, author = {Veysey, Jason and Roberts, J. Timmons and Traver, Daniel and Cotler, Brett and Gross, Benjamin and Kim, Angie}, title = {{Deeper Decarbonization in the Ocean State: The 2019 Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2019}, month = sep, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/executive-summary-deeper-decarbonization-in-the-ocean-state.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }